“Minsk resident was sentenced to 2 years in prison for writing “We won’t forget” at the place of Alexander Taraikovsky’s death.”
By: Voices Belarus
Tags: Belarus, Prayforbelarus, Police, Minsk, Protest

“Minsk resident was sentenced to 2 years in prison for writing “We won’t forget” at the place of Alexander Taraikovsky’s death.”

The defendant Maxim Paulushchyk in Frunzensky district court in Minsk during the consideration of a criminal case against him and Maria Babovich.

26-year-old Maxim Paulushchyk was sentenced to 2 years in the general regime colony, 25-year-old Maria Babovich was sentenced to 1.5 years of restraint of liberty for renewing the inscription “We won’t forget” at the place of Alexander Taraikovsky’s death near Pushkinskaya metro station.

The judge of Frunzensky Court District in Minsk Yulia Blizniuk found Maxim and Maria guilty under “Part 2 article 339” of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (disorderly conduct). The cases of Denis Grakhanov, Ihar Samusenka, and Uladzislau Gulis, who were detained shortly after Maxim and Maria, are still being investigated by the same court.

The inscription “We won’t forget” was the reason for Maxim and Maria’s sentences

On December 2nd, the state prosecutor Alina Kasyanchik stated that the defendants need to be partially justified under “Part 2 article 218” (intentional property damage). However, she referred to “acts of disorderly conduct” in the actions of the defendants.

During the first trial, the court rejected the motion for release from custody, during the trial the defendants were sitting in a guarded cell in the courtroom.

In his last words, Maxim Paulushchyk pled guilty and told that he had painted on the pavement without thinking that it may lead to criminal liability. Paulushchyk asked the judge to give him a chance and sentence him to the restraint of liberty. Maria Babovich said she hasn’t disturbed the order and asked not to restrict her liberty and to give her a chance to step in the right direction.

Defendant Maria Babovich

During the trial, a representative of “GaramAutaDar” stated that the company waives its claims against Paulushchyk and Babovich as the defendants had transferred financial compensation in the amount of 211 BYN for the damage done. During the first trial, “GaramAutaDar’’ talked about the reduction of the amount of damage from 7,500 BYN to 211 BYN.

The state prosecutor asked the court to prosecute “GaramAutaDar” as the enterprise didn’t hand over the notice on the specification of the damage amount to law enforcement agencies. However, representatives of “GaramAutaDar” stated that they had not received any documents about the initiation of a criminal case.

Another trial for the inscription “We won’t forget.”

The Frunzenskiy district court continues the trial against 42-year-old bartender Denis Grakhanov, 25-year-old bicycle park administrator Ihar Samusenak, and 25-year-old car wash employee Uladzislau Gulis. They were detained shortly after Maxim and Maria.

They are also charged under two articles of the criminal case — “Part 2 article 339 and Part 2 article 218”. During the first trial, “GaramAutaDar” reduced the damage amount from 10,182 BYN to 255 BYN. The court rejected the defense’s motion to change the preventive measures to anything other than detention. During the trial, the defendants remained in a guarded cell in the courtroom.

Alexander Taraikovksy was killed during the protests on August 10 near Pushkinskaya metro station. A people’s memorial with the inscription “We won’t forget” appeared at the place of his death. No criminal case on the death of Taraikovksy has been opened yet.