Hrodna Students Demand Release of Victim of Police Provocation

Over 100 students of the Hrodna lyceum and Hrodna State University signed the appeal for release of Marharyta Tsaran. Marharyta, 20, was sentenced to 4 years in prison for buying 0.28 grams of marijuana. The signatories of the appeal believe the verdict to the former university student is unfair. They state, the criminal charge against her was a result of a mistake or provocation.

Hrodna teachers and students sent the open letter in defense of Marharyta Tsaran to the leader of the country as well as to the Prosecutor General and the chairman of the Supreme Court, RFE/RL reports.

At the trial the sophomore student was defended, besides the lawyer, by her mother Valiantsina. According to her, the goal of the police was to expose the university lecturer who was selling drugs and Margarita was simply used:

“We have a big question concerning this lecturer. We are surprised of such impudence: the man promotes drugs, tells students about the positive effects of drugs, sells drugs, later gives frank testimony – and then disappears”.

Teacher of law Andrei Zdasiuk disappeared. The sophomore student appeared before the court and was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

Students Ruslan Koutun and Ulada Dyrda, who were Marharyta’s university mates, were among the others who put their signatures for Marharyta’s release. Did they fear to sign the petition?

Ruslan Koutun says: “No, vice versa. Even people, who didn’t know her so well, were not afraid to sign. Because they knew she was a good person and got into the trap not completely through her fault”.