Opposition activist Syarhei Ryzhou stands trial
The man who attempted to challenge President Lukashenka but was refused registration is accused of a crime allegedly committed almost 18 months ago.
Vitsebsk politician Syarhei Ryzhou will stand trial today. He became known after an attempt to take part in the presidential election campaign in 2010. Ryzhou was detained on January 23. He had just returned from Russia where he had lived for more than a year. He left soon after the trial where he was sentenced to 15 days of arrest for hooliganism and disobedience to the police (employees of a sobering-up station). The case was framed up and he was a victim of policemen’s violence, Ryzhou said. He did not serve his sentence back then, Radio Liberty reports.
Syarhei Ryzhou is accused of hooliganism at a sobering-up station but now it is a violation of the Criminal Code. He will stand trial for the sexual harassment of a homeless man. The main evidence is video records. However, Ryzhou and his lawyer have not had a chance to see the records.
Syarhei Ryzhou calls himself the founder of the unregistered Conservative-Christian Party Belaya Rus. He tried taking part in the presidential election in 2010 but failed to collect the necessary number of signatures to become a candidate.
