Trial of Partnership: witnesses are taken to court forcibly

On 2 August the trial of four members of the public association Partnership continued. The court listened to witnesses of the defense and those of the accusations witnesses who hadnt come to court before. According to BelaPAN, some of them were taken to the trial by the police.

The defendants relatives found out that the testimonies of the witnesses confirmed the position of the defense. The majority of the witnesses stated that all attempts to register Partnership were fruitless and during the last attempt the participants of its constituent assembly had been detained by the police and Mikalai Astreika and Enira Branitskaia had been even sentenced to 15 days of arrest. Thats why the organization wasnt registered and conducted no activities.

According to the relatives, the judge decided not to summon again the witnesses who hadnt come to the trial and read their testimonies that had been attached to the case. According to the relatives, it created additional obstacles to the defense, for which it would be more convenient to have the witnesses come to the trial so that questions could be asked to them.