Uladzimir Kanaplyou stands trial for cover-up of crime

Lukashenka’s friend has found himself in the dock.

The second defendant in the criminal case against the former deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus Alyaksandr Arkhipau (Alexander Arkhipov) is the former speaker of the “chamber of representatives” Uladzimir Kanaplyou (Vladimir Konoplyov). He is charged under Article 406 Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (“failure to report crime”).

Arkhipau is charged with violating two articles of the Criminal Code – abuse of power and a bribe. The both officials are at large, Interfax reports.

On May 20 in the building of the Supreme Court the Military collegium started proceedings, the trial is held behind the closed doors. Arkhipau can be sentenced to a term from 7 to 15 years of imprisonment, and Kanaplyou to community work or a detention to up to 3 months.

The criminal case against the former deputy prosecutor general of Belarus was opened after he dropped criminal charges against a businessman’s son who was driving without driver’s license and knocked down and killed a 24-year-old girl. Lukashenka stated that Arkhipau had done that for a bar of gold and a bottle of Cognac, Radio Svaboda informs.

On November 27, 2013 mass media revealed information about Uladzimir Kanaplyou’s arrest. “Pressball” newspaper informed that the official spent three days in the KGB remand prison. Then the reports were published about another deputy head of the National Olympic Committee, Henadz Alyakseenka, who came into view of law-enforcing agencies.

Uladzimir Kanaplyou is a childhood friend of the Belarusian ruler. He was Lukashenka’s aide back in the period when the future dictator was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Country. In 1995 he was elected a member of the parliament. Uladzimir Kanaplyou headed the pro-regime deputy faction “Zhoda” (“Accord”) and was a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. After the referendum of 1996 and disband of the legal parliament he became a deputy chairman of the “chamber of representatives.”

In October 2000 he became “a deputy” again. He represented a constituency #75 in Shklou. At the first extraordinary session of the new “chamber of representatives” he was elected deputy chairman. From 2004 to 2007 he presided in Lukashenka’s “parliament”.

At the moment Uladzimir Kanaplyou is the President of the Belarus Handball Federation.