Former presidential candidate in Belarus Vital Rymasheuski, whose is at a trial for "gross violation of public order" on election day on December 19, partially admitted his guilt during the court hearing on May 6. During the interrogation, Vital Rymasheuski acknowledged that he had urged citizens to gather on the square after the election, but added that it was allowed within the election campaign.
Before testifying Vital Rymasheuski asked to withdraw from the court reporters of the Belarusian state television, filming the process. The journalists of independent media were banned filming on May 6, being explained that the shooting was possible only on the first day of the trial. Belarusian TV reporters were removed from the courtroom.
Vital Rymasheuski was also accused of having spread false information about undemocratic past elections in his appeals, with which the former candidate did not agree. «Every citizen can express his opinion that elections were undemocratic. I still think so,» said Vital Rymasheuski.
Ex-candidate also disagreed with the accusation of «involvement in the riots, obviously entailing a gross violation of public order.» According to him, protest initially was peaceful. In addition, Vital Rymasheuski noted that the protesters had offered to the Prosecutor General of Belarus to attend the area during the campaign so that he could personally verify its peaceful nature, but he did not support the proposal, reports «Nasha Niva.»
Vital Rymasheuski noted that members of the election headquarters of presidential candidates tried to keep order during the rally. Meanwhile, according to the politician, there was no prior agreement between the candidates on the specific actions after the elections. «We had only one general meeting with other candidates and members of the staff. All but members of staff Andrei Sannikov were present. It happened on December 9. We agreed to coordinate protest actions at the meeting,» said Vital Rymasheuski.
Concluding the testimony, Vital Rymasheuski stated that he considers this criminal trial as a political one. «The fact that today we are here, in court, proves its political nature. Both in 2001 and in 2006 (after the presidential election — Telegraf), people also gathered on the square. Then there were no penalties like these. I personally feel a huge moral responsibility for the convicts in the case on December 19, before their family and God. I might have prevented it. Every minute of delay there has now turned into terms of detention for many people,» said Vital Rymasheuski.
As Telegraf previously reported, the trial of former candidate Vital Rymasheuski for participation in a protest on December 19 began on May 5 in the Frunzenski district court of Minsk. Another ex-candidate, Vladimir Niakliaeu, has been interrogated on the same day, as well as Vladimir Niakliaeu’s staff members Andrei Dmitriev, Alexander Feduta, Sergei Vozniak and trustee of Vital Rymasheuski, Anastasia Palazhanka.
