More peaceful protesters convicted in Brest
A snapshot of security cameras footage showing a water cannon dispersing peaceful demonstrators during a "dancing protest" in Brest on September 13, 2020
The Brest District Court convicted today the third part of defendants in a massive criminal case opened after the events of September 13, 2002, when several hundred protesters were dispersed by a water cannon and faced charges under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code.
Siarhei Maruchak, the president of court, sentenced 12 people to up to 2 years of “khimiya” imprisonment, restricted freedom in an open penal colony:
Raman Dzemidovich, Maryna Darashuk, Sviatlana Marchuk, Alesia Kramchanina and Viktoryia Karalchuk – 1 ½ years of home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”);
husband and wife Andrei and Palina Liashko – 1 ½ years of restricted freedom in an open penal colony (“khimiya”) and home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”), respectively;
Mikalai Papeka - 2 years of “khimiya”;
political prisoner Arseni Siniak and his father Yauhen Siniak – 2 years of “khimiya” each (Arseni has been in pre-trial detention since February 9);
political prisoner Volha Hlushan – 1 ½ years of home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”);
political prisoner Raman Yakhin – 2 years of home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”).
Political prisoners Volha Hlushan, Arseni Siniak and Raman Yakhin were released in the courtroom.
According to the prosecution, each of the accused acting as a group, intentionally took an active part in group actions that grossly violated public order (Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code). Their actions were allegedly combined with a clear disobedience to the lawful demands of the authorities, causing disruption of transport, businesses and organizations. In particular, the trolleybus depot suffered 619 rubles 55 kopecks in losses, and the bus operator – 40 rubles 37 kopecks.
