Judge to consider Ales Bialiatski’s pre-trial release

Uladzimir Saikouski, head of the department for the supervision over the implementation of tax and customs legislation of Minsk City Prosecutor’s Office, has redirected the complaint by Homel human rights defenders Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka to Judge Siarhei Bandarenka of Minsk Pershamaiski District Court who is going to preside at the upcoming trial of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski.

In their complaint, the human rights defenders appealed an earlier decision by investigator Mrs. Tatsiana Kasynkina to deny pre-trial release of Ales Bialiatski due to “the gravity of the committed crime.”

The official reply by Mr. Saikouski suggests that it is the judge only who can now consider a petition for the release of Ales Bialiatski, as his case file has already reached court.

Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka say they are going to attend the trial and demand legal assessment of a statement by prosecutor Kezhun, who violated Ales Bialiatski’s presumption of innocence by calling him a criminal before the trial.