Russian national appeals fine

Russian citizen Mrs. Marina Dukmasova has lodged a complaint with Minsk City Court appealing a verdict pronounced by Minsk Partyzanski District Court following her alleged involvement in a “silent protest” on 6 July.

Mrs. Dukmasova was charged with “using foul language in a public place” and fined BYR 350,000.

In her appeal, Mrs. Dukmasova argues that she did not commit the offence she was convicted of, saying that she was unreasonably detained by the police together with her under-aged son. She also states that the verdict was based on testimonies provided by policeman Charniauski, who however was not mentioned in the arrest report.

Mrs. Dukmasova believes that the court failed to take every measure to guarantee a full and unbiased consideration of the case, having refused to screen the police coverage of the protest. Apart from that, the judge failed to hear witness Charniauski, as well as Mrs. Dukmasova’s son.