Belarus: Opposition figures Kolesnikova and Znak go on trial in Minsk

У вашего броузера проблема в совместимости с HTML5

From 00:00 to 00:32 mandatory courtesy to Lyudmila Gladkaya

The trial against Belarusian opposition figures Maria Kolesnikova and Maxim Znak began behind closed doors in Minsk on Wednesday.

Video from the Minsk Regional Court shows the defendants before the trial, and Kolesnikova can be seen making a heart-shaped symbol with her hands.

Kolesnikova and Znak were both involved in last year’s mass anti-government protests and are accused of extremism, undermining national security, and conspiring to seize power, and could face up to 12 years behind bars if convicted.

They are both members of the Belarusian opposition’s Coordination Council which was created with the stated goal to facilitate a peaceful transition of power following the presidential election in August 2020. Belarusian authorities have accused the council of trying to stage a coup.

Mass protests broke out in Belarus last year following the election when long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko declared he had been re-elected as president in a poll that the opposition, and many international observers, say was rigged.

#Belarus #Minsk #MariaKolesnikova #MaximZnak

Video ID: 20210804-023

Video on Demand: https://ruptly.tv/videos/20210804-023
Contact: [email protected]

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Ruptly
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ruptly