Storing cartridge: Prosecutor demands supervised release for ex-defendant in White Legion case
The prosecutor demanded one year of restriction of liberty for the former defendant in the White Legion case Andrey Byalyauski without sending him to penitentiary institutions.
On December 12, the Belarusian Investigative Committee formally charged Andrey Byalyauski under Art. 295-1 of the Criminal Code (illegal manufacturing, purchase, transfer into possession, sale, storage, transportation, transfer or carrying of firearms, ammunition, explosives, etc.) for storing one cartridge.
During the court debate, prosecutor Alyaksei Kislyak said that Byalauski had fully admitted his guilt. The defendant told investigators that he had found a cartridge in the newly-purchased car.
In turn, his defense lawyer stressed that Byalyauski had never had an intention to check the combat capability of the cartridge. According to him, the defendant took it home as a souvenir, where it was kept until May 24, 2017, and forgot about its existence.
“The cartridge found cannot be used without arms; it poses no threat on its own. Stun guns or gas cylinders are more dangerous,” he said.
On March 21, president Alyaksandr Lukashenka stated that several dozen persons ‘trained how to deal with weapons in [special] camps’ had been arrested in Belarus. According to him, such camps were located not far from the Belarusian towns of Babruysk and Asipovichy.
About 30 persons – former members of the White Legion, state-authorized sports and military club Patriot, Young Front activists as well as people who are not associated with any organizations, landed up in jail after Lukashenka’s words about ‘armed militants’ posing a threat to Belarus.
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However, the first-ever case that had been opened under Article 287 of the Belarusian Criminal Code was closed on November 27. Andrey Byalyauski was released from prison on June, 2.
КА, belsat.eu, following TUT.by
