Minsk Releases Russians

By The Moscow Times

March 11, 2011

Three Russian citizens who went on trial in Minsk over their alleged participation in the anti-government protests in Belarus in December avoided jailing, Interfax reported Thursday.

The suspects, Dmitry Medved, Artyom Breus and Ivan Gaponov, were convicted by a Minsk district court, but released. Breus and Gaponov were fined about $5,800 each, and Medved was handed a three-year suspended sentence.

All three pleaded not guilty. Several Russians were earlier jailed in Minsk on similar charges, which sparked the ire of Moscow.

Thousands rallied in Minsk after the December presidential vote, which they said was rigged by the winner, incumbent Alexander Lukashenko. Police cracked down on protesters, many of whom remain in detention.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue