MINSK CITY COURT CANCELLED 14 DAY SENTENCE TO VALIANTSIN BARANAW

MINSK CITY COURT CANCELLED 14 DAY SENTENCE TO VALIANTSIN BARANAW

Minsk city court presided by Judge Ardziaka cancelled the ruling of Leninski borough court, which had sentenced Valiantsin Baranaw to 14 days of jail for participation in the action of 23 March.
Leninski borough court of Minsk found Valiantsin Baranaw guilty of participation in the unauthorized action on 23 March and sentenced him to 14 days of jail. Minsk city court reversed the ruling and sent the case back to the lower court.
During the hearing in Minsk city court it was proved that the policemen, who testified against Baranaw during the first hearing, were not the same people with those who had actually arrested Baranaw. The “witnesses” stated they wore police uniform when arresting Baranaw. Valiantsin Baranaw presented a photo, which shows absolutely different people in civil clothes, detaining him.
Valiantsin Stefanovich, lawyer of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" represented Valiantsin Baranaw in court. He explains: “Mr. Baranaw brought some high-quality photos, which clearly show 2 people in civil clothes seizing him. During the hearing in Leninski borough court absolutely other people stated it was them who had arrested him. Besides that, the picture shows the “witnesses” standing in the cordon. That means, the witnesses gave false testimony. Minsk city court reversed the ruling of Leninski borough court”.