Trial in Absentia of Five Kalinouski Regiment Members to Begin on August 20

A trial in absentia of five representatives of the The Kalinouski Regiment will begin on August 20 at the Minsk City Court. The defendants are Mikalai Boika, Yury Makitau, Natallia Nikitsina, Khrystsina Stankevich and Mikhail Chuprynski, the Viasna Human Rights Centre reported.

They have been charged under the following articles of the Belarusian Criminal Code:

• participation in a criminal organisation (Article 285),
• conspiracy to seize state power (Article 357),
• participation in an extremist formation (Article 361-1),
• participation in an armed formation, armed conflict or military action on the territory of a foreign state, as well as recruiting or training individuals for such participation (Article 361-3),
• facilitating extremist activity (Article 361-4),
• undergoing training or other preparation for participation in extremist activity (Article 361-5),
• participation in a terrorist organisation (Article 290-5).

Special proceedings against them were initiated on May 27.