Prosecutors asks to uphold verdicts

The Minsk City Court is hearing the cassation appeals against court decisions to Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, Dzmitry Novik and Alyaksandr Mauchanau, who were sentenced to prison terms for taking part in the events on December 19.

The court board consists of court chairman Kamisarau, judges Kamarouskaya and Khrypach, Radio Svaboda reports.

Atroshchankau’s lawyer Vadzim Mushynski and Novik’s lawyer Andrei Sankovich asked to overturn the convictions.

Mushynski said that there were no actual proofs of Atroshchankau’s guilt. He referred to the video showing Atroshchankau standing in mob close to the doors of the House of Government, but doing nothing to enter the building.

Lawyer Sankovich said his client Novik had not been charged with damaging the House of Government, thought this was mentioned in the court ruling.

The lawyers also noted that when delivering judgements to Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, Dzmitry Novik and Alyaksandr Mauchanau, the court had not used articled allowing shorter terms of punishment or suspended sentences. They asked to change the verdict on this ground.

Prosecutor Maladtsova said there were enough proofs and asked to uphold the verdict.