Exiled members of Coordinating Council to be tried in absentia

The Investigative Committee launched special proceedings against representatives of the Coordinating Council, a non-governmental body created in 2020 by presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to facilitate a democratic transfer of power.

The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus approved this decision. The representatives of the Coordinating Council are going to be tried in absentia.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, exiled leader of the democratic opposition in Belarus, has been charged with as many as 10 articles of the Criminal Code:

• Preparation for a takeover of buildings and structures (Part 1 of Article 13 and Part 1 of Article 292);
• Preparation for participation in riots (Part 1 of Article 13 and Part 2 of Article 293);
• Conspiracy to seize power in an unconstitutional way (Part 1 of Article 357);
• Сreation and leadership of an extremist formation (Parts 1 and 2 of Article 361-1);
• Calls for actions/sanctions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus (Part 3 of Article 361);
• Incitement to hatred (Part 3 of Article 130);
• High treason (Part 1, Article 356);
• Organization and management of the unauthorized assignment of the rank and power of an official (Part 4 of Article 16 and Article 382);
• Obstruction of the exercise of electoral rights, the right to participate in a referendum (Part 2 of Article 191);
• Other training of persons to participate in group actions that grossly violate the public order (Part 4 of Article 16 and Part 2 of Article 342).

Also, special proceedings have been initiated against Pavel Latushka, former Minister of culture and Ambassador of Belarus to France who became a member of the Coordination Council presidium. He is charged with eight articles of the Criminal Code:

• Conspiracy to seize power in an unconstitutional way (Part 1 of Article 357);
• Calls for actions/sanctions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus (Part 3 of Article 361);
• Creation of extremist formation (Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361-1);
• Incitement to hatred (Part 3 of Article 130);
• Organization and management of the unauthorized assignment of the rank and power of an official (Part 4 of Article 16 and Article 382);
• Obstruction of the exercise of electoral rights, the right to participate in a referendum (Part 2 of Article 191);
• Abuse of power or authority resulting in significant damage to state and public interests committed out of mercenary and other personal interest (Part 3 of Article 426);
• Taking a large bribe (Part 3 of Article 430).

It is known that special proceedings have also been initiated against Volha Kavalkova, Belarusian Christian Democracy co-chair. She is charged with as many as five articles of the Criminal Code:

• Conspiracy to seize power in an unconstitutional way (Part 1 of Article 357);
• Calls for actions/sanctions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus (Part 3 of Article 361);
• Creation of extremist formation (Part 2 of Article 361-1);
• Incitement to hatred (Part 3 of Article 130);
• Obstruction of the exercise of electoral rights, the right to participate in a referendum (Part 2 of Article 191).

Special proceedings have been initiated against the leader of Tsikhanouskaya's 2020 election team Maryia Maroz and the 2020 strike leader at the Minsk Tractor Works Siarhei Dyleuski.

Maroz is accused of:

• Preparation for takeover of buildings and structures (Part 1 of Article 13 and Part 1 of Article 292);
• Preparation for participation in riots (Part 1 of Article 13 and Part 2 of Article 293);
• Conspiracy to seize power in an unconstitutional way (Part 1 of Article 357);
• Other training of persons to participate in group actions that grossly violate the public order (Part 4 of Article 16 and Part 2 of Article 342).

Dyleuski has been charged with:

• Conspiracy to seize power in an unconstitutional way (Part 1 of Article 357);
• Calls for actions/sanctions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus (Part 3 of Article 361);
• Creation of extremist formation (Part 2 of Article 361-1).