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Judgment in trial of Nyaklyayew, Rymashewski to be pronounced on Friday afternoon

The judgment in the trial of presidential candidates Uladzimir Nyaklyayew and Vital Rymashewski and four other opposition activists is expected to be pronounced on the afternoon of May 20.

Judge Zhanna Zhukowskaya of the Frunzenski District Court in Minsk announced on Wednesday that the Friday court session would begin at 4 p.m.

Messrs. Nyakylayew and Rymashewski, Mr. Nyaklyayew’s campaign aides Alyaksandr Fyaduta, Syarhey Vaznyak and Andrey Dzmitryyew, as well as Anastasiya (Nasta) Palazhanka, deputy chairperson of an opposition youth organization called Malady Front, are all charged with the "organization and preparation of actions that are in gross violation of public order or active participation in them" in connection with a post-election protest staged in Minsk on December 19, 2010.

The public prosecutor in the trial, Andrey Kazhewnikaw, suggested on Tuesday that Messrs. Nyakylayew and Rymashewski be sentenced to suspended prison terms of three and two years, respectively, with two years' probation.

The prosecutor also demanded a suspended three-year prison term with two years' probation for Mr. Dzmitryyew, suspended two-year prison sentences with two years' probation for Messrs. Fyaduta and Vaznyak, and a suspended 18-month prison sentence with a year's probation for Ms. Palazhanka, who was Mr. Rymashewski's campaign aide during the presidential race. //BelaPAN