Activist of Sannikov's Team Asked for 10-Year Imprisonment

05.05.2011 14:23
Архив Редакция

May 5, Kastrychnitski district court in Minsk continued the trial against opposition activists Pavel Vinogradov, Alexei Kirkevichem, Andrei Protasenya, Vladimir Homichenko, as well as the activist of the team of ex-presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov, historian Dmitri Drozdov. The latter made a final speech asking for 8-10 years in prison.

The prosecutor asked to condemn the historian to 3.5 years in prison for «participation in the riots,» reports «Nasha Niva

However, Dmitri Drozd said in his final speech before the court: «Take my last word as really the last one. All of my 40 years, I’ve not been preparing for the jail, avoiding contacts with the thieves and other criminal gangs. What I see now is a gift of fate for me as a historian. I was taken back in 1938 by the time machine. I was in jail, because I love Belarus…»

At this time, the judge interrupted him and called to talk about the case materials. Dmitri Drozd said that he had lived in Russia seven years, he had a good job, an apartment in downtown Moscow, but he wanted to do something more. He returned to Belarus, because he loved his country. «The elections were rigged,» calmly and confidently repeated an activist. The judge was silent.

«We, those who came to the Square, had the reason for this, he continued. — No one was planning any extremist actions. Otherwise I would have taken a bayonet, but not a megaphone. Investigator warned me that if I didn’t admit guilt, I would get three and a half years of imprisonment, otherwise — three years … Three kicks on the board are equal to three years of imprisonment — is this normal? People were determined hold a peaceful demonstration until they were beaten with clubs. I understand why the prosecutor is unwilling to watch this video. Only in our country white is called black and vice versa. No wonder Belarusian TV is called «Goebbels-TV» (by analogy with the Nazi Germany and its political leader-promoter Paul Joseph Goebbels — Telegraf). The situation in our country can’t be taken normally. I do not see any breaks of law on my part.»

According to the activist of Andrei Sannikov’s team, he was the last to approach the door of Government House, when the riot police showed up. «I got my punishment from the special forces, without departing from the place — on the head and back. I served 10 days of administrative punishment in Zhodina. I’ve been kept here for four months in jail. I’m treated as the worst criminal who flees the country,» said Dmitri Drozd.

«I am not an extremist, but a man who loves his country. I beg to give me eight or ten years so that I could stay at home and realize my creative plans,» summarized Dmitri Drozd.

Court must rule sentenced for five activists at 17:00 on May 5.

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