Mikalai Statkevich Comes to Support Graffiti Makers

Mikalai Statkevich, the leader of the Belarusian opposition, took a solidarity visit at the second hearing on "graffiti case".

Salidarnasts informs.

The hearing began with a 10-minute delay due to late arrival of two of the three accused. Judge Alla Skuratovich, Frunzenski district of Minskб remarked upon it and started the proceeding.

Maxim Piakarski, Vadzim Zharomski, Viachaslau Kasinerau faced the trial, They are charged for graffiti in Belarusian language "Belarus should be Belarusian" («Беларусь мае быць беларускай») and "Revolution of conscience is on..."(«Рэвалюцыя сьвядомасьці, яна ўжо ідзе…») and damage to social billboard with an image of policemen.

The accused were interrogated on 25 January. No one pleaded guilty to the charge.

People in plain-clothes crowded the room. The riot police took service near the building. At 11.30 the hearing was stopped and it will be continued at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nasha Niva reports.

It should be reminded that on August 11 five young men were cruelly detained on suspicion of three criminal cases: graffiti in Belarusian language "Belarus should be Belarusian" («Беларусь мае быць беларускай») and "Revolution of conscience is on..."(«Рэвалюцыя сьвядомасьці, яна ўжо ідзе…»). The Investigative Committee served charges on Maksim Pekarski and Vadzim Zharomski under article "Hooliganism committed by a group of persons".

A hearing on "graffiti case" started in Frunzenski district court of Minsk on January 25. The hearing started with a solidarity action. Two young men Pavel Siarhei and Maksim Shytsikau had a poster "No to Political Persecution", one of them shouted "No to Political Persecution!", "Art Is not a Crime!", "It's not a Hearing, but Show!". Young men were beaten up by the police in the court-house and then fined $450 and $500.