The leader of "Za Svabodu" ("For Freedom") movement, Alexander Milinkevich, issued a special statement before proclaiming the Supreme Court's verdict on the "Autukhovich case". "The whole course of the process, outrageous procedural violations, knowingly untrue testimonies of witnesses from the prosecution clearly indicate the political and contract nature of this case", the politician said.
The politician called on Belarusian and international democratic community to express solidarity with Nikolai Autukhovich, Vladimir Kozlov and Mikhail Osipenko, and called for «full and unconditional discharge of all Belarusian political prisoners and termination of political repressions in Belarus», Belarus Partisan informs.
«Belarusian human rights defenders, authoritative international organizations recognize these people as prisoners of conscience», Alexander Milinkevich stressed. The decision on criminal cases of Vaukavysk businessmen will be made by Supreme Court on May 6.
Nikolai Autukhovich, Vladimir Osipenko and Alexander Larin are accused of planning a terrorist act against the Deputy Minister of Taxes and Dues of Belarus, Vasily Kamenko, and the former governor of Grodno region, Vladimir Savchenko. Vaukavysk businessmen are also accused of burning the house of the former head of Vaukavysk police department, Vitali Kotsuba, in 2004. All fragments of the case are related to the period of 2004-2005.
Mikhail Kozlov, a police lieutenant colonel and former head of Grodno regional UBOP, is accused of that he knew about plans of terrorist act, but did not take any steps to prevent it.
