Terrorism case: unprecedented security measures and pressurization of journalists
On 15 September there
started the trial of Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou, charged of exploding
a bomb on the Kastrychnitskaya metro
station on 11 April 2011. They are also suspected in explosions in Vitsebsk and
Minsk in 2005
and 2008 and 30 more criminal episodes.
10.40 a.m. The Hall of the House of Justice has 430 seats, 300 of them are
occupied.
At 10.50 a
court officer stated that students could be let in the court hall. About 30
students came in and sat down at the last rows.
Unprecedented security measures were taken in the Hall of Justice. Journalists
were directed to certain places after passing a metal detector and
registration. The stage at which the judge, the state accusers and the people’s
assessors are located, is surrounded by 10 riot policemen. All rear seats are
occupied by officers of security services dressed in civvies.
The cellular signals don’t reach the court hall. As said by Aliaksandr
Lastouski, press-secretary of the Police Bureau of the Minsk City Executive
Committee, it was done on purpose in order to provide the immunity of the
trial.
Kanavalau and Kavaliou were put into a special cage which is guarded by four
policemen in turns. All exits are controlled by the riot police.
11.10 a.m. The trial begins. It is held by Aliaksandr Fedartsou, Deputy Chair
of the Supreme Court. The surnames of the people’s assessors are Hrytsko and
Zgarouski. The state accusation is represented by Aliaksei Stuk, Deputy
Prosecutor General, with the aid of two other prosecutors, senior investigators
of the General Procuracy Mironchyk and Tsimafeyeu.
The defendants’ lawyers are Stanislau Abrazei and Lepretau.
121 casualties or their legal representatives are present in the court hall.
401 casualties didn’t come to the trial. 234 of them addressed the court with
the requests to consider the case in their absence.
11.25 a.m. Aliaksandr Krytu, father of the casualty Inesa Krutaya, made several
solicitations. One of them is to abolish the death penalty as an attribute of
barbarism before the beginning of the trial. Another is to introduce the jury
trial, so that the verdict could be issued by a jury. Casualties Lebiadzinskaya
and Inkevich joined his solicitations.
Casualty Saakian stated that he hadn’t been given enough time to familiarize
with the case materials, which raises doubts in the quality of the
investigation.
One of the casualties, Tsiutsiunou, stated he was against the photo and video shooting
during the trial. The judge granted his petition. Cameramen and photo
correspondents left the court hall.
Kanavalau’s lawyer told the court that his defendant solicited for a private
talk with the lawyer. The accusation objected. The judge dismissed the
solicitation.
The state accuser Aliaksei Stuk read the charges to Uladzislau Kanavalau, who
is charged with 12 criminal episodes committed in 2000-2011. This took more
than 90 minutes.
Dzmitry Kanavalau was charged with terrorism which claimed human lives,
inflicted bodily injuries of different degrees of severity, and other grave
consequences, unlawful actions with explosives and explosive devices, malignant
and especially malignant hooliganism and purposeful destruction or defilement
of property in a generally dangerous way.
1.45 p.m. Before the announcement of a break Judge Aliaksandr Fedartsou
prohibited the journalists from contacting with casualties and witnesses and
taking comments from them. According to him, it could be treated as an attempt
to influence the trial. He also asked the journalists to abstain from making
any comments on the case, threatening with criminal prosecution otherwise.
Human rights defenders considered it as a violation of the Law On Mass Media and the civil right to
receive information.
2.30 p.m. The trial continues. The state accuser Aliaksei Stuk states that
defendant Kanavalau had taken active measures to escape the detention after the
dactylography, and exploded his device on the Kastrychnitskaya metro station two days after it. The bomb weighed
at least 12.5 kilos, was made of several substances and contained iron balls
and bars. He also stated that the other defendant, Kavaliou, had known about
the preparation of the blast since 2010. In April 2011 he had acted in collusion
with Kanavalau and helped him to find a rented apartment for the preparation of
the terrorist act.
3.30 p.m. The accusation to Uladzislau Kavaliou is read: “Uladzislau Kavaliou
didn’t inform law-enforcement bodies about the preparation of the explosions
because of the false feeling of comradeship. Kavaliou had a real opportunity to
inform about these crimes.” The accusation enumerates the episodes which are
connected to his participation in the preparation and implementation of the
explosions and in unlawful actions with explosives.
Dzmitry Kanavalau admitted his guilt in the terrorist acts in the Minsk metro and on Peramozhtsau Avenue,
as well as unlawful actions with explosives, but denied other episodes,
including the malignant hooliganism in the beginning of 2000-ies.
Uladzislau Kavaliou admitted having bought trotyl cartridges and passed them to
Kanavalau, as well as cases of malignant hooliganism in the beginning of
2000-ies. However, he denied some episodes, including his participation in the
terrorist acts in the metro and on the Peramozhtsau Avenue. He also stated that
he refused from his earlier testimony about his involvement in the terrorist
act in the metro.
4.10 p.m. a break was announced till 11 a.m. on 16 September.
