Atroshchankau pleads not guilty (Photo)

The trial over Andrei Sannikov’s spokesman and two other demonstrators will be continued at 10:00 am on March 2.

The hearing of the case against Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, Andrei Sannikov’s spokesman, began in the court of the Frunzenski district of Minsk on March 1.

Journalist Alyaksandr Atroshchankau as well as Alyaksandr Mauchnau and Zmitser Novik, also involved in the case, stood trial in one courtroom. Filming was prohibited during the trial. Many people, including relatives of the political prisoners, journalists and human rights activists, were not admitted to the courtroom. Only family members and a few journalists are able to attend the trial conducted by judge Tastyana Charkas.

The accusations presented in the court sounded absurd.

The three defendants are charged with violating part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal Code (taking part in mass riot), which provides for imprisonment from three to five years, Radio Svaboda reports.

Accusation for Mauchnau was read out: desecration of state symbols. He reportedly tore down two official red-green flags from the KGB building. The prosecutor said Mauchanau had been drunk and, acting in concert with journalist Atroshchankau and Novik, forcefully tried to burst into the House of Government.

Novik is accused of taking part in mass riot and armed (!) resistance to representatives of the authorities. He allegedly hit at least the doors of the House of Government at least 21 times.

Atroshchankau is accused of “acting as part of the mob, participating in mass riot. At 10:15 pm, he, acting in concert with Mauchnau and Novik, forcefully tried to burst into the House of Government. He delivered at least one blow…”

Mauchnau was questioned first and fully admitted his guilt. Novik admitted his guilt partially.

Alyaksandr Atroshchankau pleaded not guilty, Belsat TV channel reported.

The journalist said he didn’t know Mauchnau at all and admitted he had seen Novik once during the election campaign and talked to him about the elections and signature collecting, Radio Svaboda informs.

Atroshchankau said he had come to the square as a spokesman for Andrei Sannikov.

The prosecutor asked if he had known a plan or an aim of the demonstration. Alyaksandr replied he head known for sure that the action would be peaceful.

Alyaksandr Atroshchankau: “When I was on the square, I turn attention to a crowd near the House of Government. There also were TV operators nearby. I could see them clearly, because they were in the light of cameras.”

Prosecution: “With what purpose did you come to the square?”

Atroshchankau:”I came to attend the rally. The presidential election is a very important event, so I came to the square to cover the events as a journalist.”

Prosecution:”Did you know about the aim of the rally?”

Atroshchankau: “I knew that presidential candidates would be there. I knew that the presidential candidates were planning a peaceful action.”

Prosecution: “Can you call it a protest action?”

Atroshchankau: “I don’t know.”

However, Atroshchankau admitted he had seen people there who were not satisfied with Lukashenka. As a journalist he wanted to cover what was happening on the square, Radio Svaboda reports.

As a spokesman, he solved technical matters with the media, organized interviews for Sannikov, but did not give own comments. “I did not call anyone to attend the demonstration,” Atroshchankau claims.

Asked what he had done on October Square and Independence Square, he said: “I saw all presidential candidates expect for Nyaklyaeu. I don’t remember the content of their speeches.

I saw how people were breaking windows. I stood at the monument to Lenin and tried to control the journalists, who wanted to come closer to the candidate, to prevent hustle.

I did not see attempts to open the barricaded doors. I did not see any instruments in the hands of people breaking the doors.

Later, I came closer to the House of Government with the crowd.

I stood at the entrance to the House of Government when special purpose troops appeared.”

Judge: “Did the crowd move to the House of Government on its will or because there were calls to do this?”

Atroshchankau: “I didn’t hear any calls. I did not take part in mass riot. I even doubt there was riot. There were no arsons, no disobedience to police. Just several windows were broken… When the dispersal had begun, I left Independence Square.

When the crowd moved to the doors shouting ‘One, two, three!’, I stepped aside. I didn’t that people had any items in their hands. I didn’t do any actions. I was standing and watching. I did not deliver blows. I didn’t do any active moves there.”

The lawyer demanded a reference letter proving that Atroshchankau was on the square as a journalist for international information agency Delfi be attached to the case.

Questioning of witnesses

Five witnesses gave evidence in the case of Mauchanau, but even KGB officer Vital Palyukhovich, who was on duty in the building on December 19, found it difficult to say that the flag had been torn down exactly by the activist. According to him, he saw this only on the video of taken by surveillance cameras, but the image was indistinct. However, his colleague Valyantsin Kazyra said it was Mauchnau who had torn down the flag.

Another witness, Mikalai Shauko from the main police directorate of Minsk, was taking video on October Square and Independence Square on December 19. “I heard Statkevich calling to go to the House of Government,” he said.

The witness said he had his video camera snatched out of his hands and broken. He received a new camera and continued taking video at the House of Government. He stood close to the doors, when people were breaking glass.

Another witness was Dzyanis Antonau, an officer of the main police directorate, born in 1976. According to him, he was filming the events since 8:00 pm on October Square.

He described all events chronologically: people gathered, held a meeting, marched down Independence Avenue, came to Independence Square, held a meeting. He also told about the events near the House of Government.

“There was no aggression on October Square. It was a usual demonstration,” he said.

“I stood close to candidate Sannikov at first, but then moved to the House of Government. I took video of people breaking glass,” the police officer said. He noted that he had seen Alyaksandr Atroshchankau at the entrance to the House of Government, but he had not been at the front. He said that Atroshchankau hadn’t touched the barricades at the entrance to the building.

The witness from police told the lawyer he had not seen arsons and armed resistance: “as for weapons, I saw just fishing poles used by opposition members to raise flags.”

Footage was watched during the trial. Mauchnau recognized himself in a video showing him breaking glass and admitted that was him who was waving a flag on a tractor. There were many video already shown by the Belarusian television. It was a video of Alyaksandr Atroshchnkau in the crowd, but notbreakign anything and standing away from the doors of the House of Government.

At 5:30 pm, the judge took a decision to continue hearing at 10:00 am on March 2.

Alyaksandr Atroshchankau was arrested in early hours of December 20, together with hundreds of other Belarusians, and thrown in the KGB jail. Like presidential candidates, their team members, and other journalists, he was bought charges under article 293 of the Criminal Code (organizing and taking part in mass riot) for attending the protest demonstration against rigging the presidential election results. The journalist was performing his professional duties on the square, but he is accused of taking part in the so called riot.

Alyaksandr Atroshchankau he was a spokesman for Belarusian presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov during the election campaign. He had been a spokesman for European Belarus civil campaign and also has worked as a journalist for charter97.org for the last ten years.

“The trial over Alyaksandr Atroshchankau is not only an attempt to wipe out a civil society in the country but also the purposeful obstruction of freedom of speech in Belarus.

We demand immediate and unconditional release of the journalist who was pronounced a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. We also demand unconditional release of all the prisoners detained in relation to the so-called "case of mass riots on December 19,” European Belarus civil campaign says in its recent statement.

Alyaksandr Atroshchankau has been recognized prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.

“Since his arrest on Dec. 19, only two investigative steps were conducted with Alyaksandr: the indictment on 29 December and familiarising him with the case materials. We fear that the court will be used for retribution and total isolation of him as someone who could influence the situation in the country.

We ask you to pay particular attention to the trial of Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, the first trial of an active member of the election headquarters of a presidential candidate, and to join in with our demand for the unconditional release of all political prisoners,” the initiative “Vyzvalenne” (Release), uniting families of political prisoners, says in its appeal to foreign diplomats.