Frunzenski District Court of Minsk: Atroshchankau, Malchanau, Novik

Three participants of the protest action of 19 December in Minsk are being tried at the Frunzenski District Court today. All of them are charged with ‘participation in mass riot’ (Article 293 of the Criminal Case, part 2). One of them, Aliaksandr Malchanau, is also charged under Article 370 (outrage of the state symbols).

10.10 a.m. – the trial hasn’t started yet. The third floor of the court is crowded with people and there aren’t enough seats in the court hall. The people sang God Almighty, after which the chair of the court warned them for hindering the work of the court.

10.20 – the judge banned taking photos and videos.

11.00 – the judge declined the motion of Zmitser Novik’s attorney for changing the restraint.

11.15 – Aliaksandr Atroshchankau pleaded innocent, Aliaksandr Malchanau completely confessed his guilt, and Zmitser Novik confessed the guilt partially.

11.30 – the judge read the accusation to Malchanau: outrage of the state symbols committed by tearing down red-green flags from the KGB building. The representative of the accusation alleges that Malchanau was inebriated, acted in concord with Atroshchankau and Novikau and tried to penetrate the House of the Government with the use of violence.

Novikau was charged with an active participation in the mass riot and armed resistance to the police. At about 10 p.m. on 19 December he tried to unlawfully enter the House of the Government together with Malchanau and Atroshchankau and hit the entrance doors for at least 21 times.

Atroshchankau was charged with active participation in the mass riot on 19 December being in the crowd of demonstrators. At 10.15 p.m. he tied to get into the House of the Government in concord with Malchanau and Novikau, using physical force. He hit the entrance doors for at least one time.

11.50 – the representative of the accusation Volasava questioned Aliaksandr Atroshchankau.

12.25 – the attorney solicited for attaching to the case a letter confirming that Atroshchankau had cooperated with the international informational center Delfi while being present at the square. The judge attached the letter to the case RFE/RL.

1.10 p.m. – a break till 2 p.m. was announced following the questioning of the accused.

2.05 – the trial continued. The judge started questioning five witnesses. Malchanau’s friend Siarhei Sazonau, a student from Barysau, was interrogated first. Sazonau said that Malchanau used to be a member of the opposition youth organization Zubr. The representative of the accusation also asked the witness about the political views of the accused. Sazonau also stated that Malchanau had phoned him from the square on 19 December, but hadn’t said anything concrete (RFE/RL).

4.15 – the interrogation of witnesses finished. The court started studying video materials. Prosecutor Ulasava comments that Malchanau’s actions were fixed on the video.

5.25 – a break was announced till 10 a.m. on 2 March.