Complaints on the sentence from the lawyers were filed on September 16. Kalesnikava and Znak also intend to file complaints themselves from the detention center on their behalf, reports the headquarters of Viktar Babaryka.
As lawyer Uladzimir Pylchanka explains, the complaints filed are preliminary.
“There is an opportunity to set out the arguments in an additional appeal no later than five days before the start of the trial,” says the lawyer.
Pylchanka stresses that the sentence of Kalesnikava and Znak is illegal:
“Masha, for example, does not understand why the judges concluded that she was guilty. And I also do not doubt that the verdict is illegal, not based on evidence. It is logical that if a person did not commit a crime, they should not accept baseless accusations and judicial decisions. For this reason, we will seek to have the verdict overturned. I am sure that sooner or later, it will happen.”
On 6 September, the Minsk regional court sentenced Maryia Kalesnikava and Maksim Znak to 11 and 10 years of imprisonment. The verdict has not come into force yet. If none of the protesters file a complaint, it will enter into force on 21 September.
