Mother of defendant in subway bombing trial pleas for protection

Mrs. Liubou Kavaliova, the mother of Uladzislau Kavaliou, currently standing trial for alleged involvement in a number of explosions, including a metro blast on 11 April 2011, has released an online petition for the public protection to the defendants.

“On 30 November, the Supreme Court of Belarus is expected to pronounce its final verdict in the case of my son Uladzislau Kavaliou and Dzmitry Kanavalau. My son is facing charges of involvement in the plotting and execution of a number of terrorist acts, together with failure to report the crime. The charges are based on the testimony provided under pressure during the preliminary investigation, which was refuted by Kavaliou during the trial. No other grave evidence was provided by the prosecution”, says Mrs. Kavaliova.

Both defendants were subjected to torture in order to force them admit their guilt, says Mrs. Kavaliova. She also stresses that the court denied numerous motions by the defendant and their counsels. The defendant’s mother says the independent journalists had no opportunity to contact the victims, while the state-run media portrayed Kavaliou and Kanavalau as terrorists before the trial was over.