18 persons still in custody in ‘rioting case’

According to latest reports, 18 persons remain in custody in the case of ‘preparing mass riots’, as of May 10. All of them have been charged under Part 3 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code (preparing riots). If convicted, they may be imprisoned for up to 3 years.

16 persons face additional charges of ‘organizing an illegal armed group’ (Art. 287 of the Criminal Code). The crime is punishable by up to seven years in prison.

The KGB said on March 22 that it detained 18 people over plans to organize street riots during the March 25 Freedom Day protest in Minsk. More people were detained later. The detainees are members of the Young Front opposition group and a Babrujsk-based sports and military club called Patriot. Others are former members of an organization called Bely Lehiyon (White Legion), which ceased to exist more than 15 years ago.

During a press conference with relatives of the persons detained in the case on March 24, the Human Rights Center "Viasna", along with the country’s six leading human rights organizations, stressed the politically motivated nature of the criminal case, which viewed in the context of the wave of hysteria stirred by the government-run media on the eve of the Freedom Day demonstration.

To date, the Human Rights Center "Viasna" is aware of the charges against persons involved in the case, but knows nothing about the amount and quality of evidence on which they are based. The analysis of this evidence will help assess the actions of the defendants under the criteria determining the concept of a ‘political prisoner’. However, it is essential that the arguments regarding the political persecution of defendants in the case were shared by the wider international community.

The current list of persons held in the case is as follows:

Aliaksei Abramau, b. 1979. Detained on March 21. Held in the KGB jail. On March 30, charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Andrei Bialiauski, b. 1982. Detained on March 21. Earlier held in the KGB jail. On March 31, charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. In early April, transferred to jail No. 1. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Viktar Danilau, b. 1987. Detained on March 21. Earlier held in the KGB jail. On March 31, charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. On April 10, transferred to jail No. 1. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Andrei Dundukou, b. 1985. Detained on March 21. Earlier held in the KGB jail. Charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. Transferred to jail No. 1. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Uladzimir Fiodarau, b. 1988. Detained on March 29. Held in jail No. 1. Charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Ivan Kavalchuk, b. 1991. Detained on March 23. Held in the KGB jail. On March 30, charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Andrei Komlik-Yamatsin, b. 1985. Detained on March 21. Held in the KGB jail. On March 30, charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Siarhei Kuntsevich, b. 1985. Earlier held in the KGB jail. Charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. Transferred to jail No. 1.

Miraslau Lazouski, b. 1973. Detained on March 21. Held in the KGB jail. On March 31, charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Viktar Maroz, b. 1986. Detained on April 3. Earlier held in the KGB jail. Charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. Transferred to jail No. 1. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Mikalai Mikhalkou, b. 1970. Head of the Patriot club in Babrujsk. Detained on March 24. Earlier held in the KGB jail. Charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. Transferred to jail No. 1.

Dzmitry Novik, b. 1978. Detained on March 21. Earlier held in the KGB jail. Charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. On April 7, transferred to jail No. 1. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Yauhen Paltarzhytski, b. 1987. Detained on March 21. Held in the KGB jail. On March 30, charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Tsimur Pashkevich. Detained on March 21. Held in the KGB jail. Charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Uladzimir Rumiantsau, b. 1988. Detained on March 21. Earlier held in the KGB jail. On March 31, charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. Transferred to jail No. 1. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Siarhei Strybulski, b. 1976. Detained on March 21. Earlier held in the KGB jail. On March 31, charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. On April 5, transferred to jail No. 1. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Aliaksandr Yaudakha, b. 1975. Detained on March 21. Held in jail No. 1. On March 31, charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

Aliaksandr Zimnitski, b. 1991. Detained on March 29. Earlier held in the KGB jail. Charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. Transferred to jail No. 1. (Also formally charged under Art. 287 of the Criminal Code).

15 people have been released from custody. Most of them will have to appear in court later.

Siarhei Palcheuski. Detained on March 22. Earlier held in jail No. 1. Charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. On April 15, released on own recognizance.

Zmitser Dashkevich. Detained on March 22. Initially held in the KGB jail, then in jail No. 1. On March 31, charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. On April 15, released on own recognizance.

Yury Huryn. Detained on March 21. On March 31, released from jail No. 1.

Siarhei Kulinich, political activist, associate of former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich. Detained on March 24. On April 3, released from the KGB jail.

Raman Vasiliyeu, activist of Young Front. Detained on March 23. On April 1, released from jail No. 1.

Uladzimir Yaromenak, activist of Young Front. Detained on March 23. On April 1, released from jail No. 1.

Dzmitry Kremenetski, activist of Young Front. Detained on March 23. On April 1, released from jail No. 1.

Artsiom Leuchanka, activist of Young Front. Detained on March 22. On April 1, released from jail No. 1.

Siarhei Barstok. Detained on March 21. Released on March 31.

Viachaslau Duksht, member of a special police unit. Detained on March 21. On March 31, released from the KGB jail.

Illia Hrek, deputy head of the Smarhoń border detachment. Detained on March 21. On March 31, released from the KGB jail.

Maksim Stsiapanau. Detained on March 21. On March 31, released from the KGB jail.

Aliaksei Saskevich, member of a special police unit. Detained on March 24. Released from custody.

Siarhei Hromau, released from custody.

Yan Mikhalkou (son of Mikalai Mikhalkou), b. 1994. Detained on March 21. Earlier held in the KGB jail. Charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code. Later transferred to jail No. 1. Released on April 29.