The Russian Federation believes that the situation that has developed around the citizens of Russia Artem Breus and Ivan Gaponov, accused of rioting in Minsk, "is far from a positive outcome judging by common mood." This was stated by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Alexander Lukashevich during a briefing on March 10.
«The number of new charges, as well as new witnesses, is growing; all this can’t but cause concern,» he added. However, agency staff keeps on hoping that «the court’s decision will be fair, objective and will meet the standards of international law,» RIA «Novosti» news agency.
As Telegraf previously reported, March 10, the court of the Moscow district of Minsk resumed its session over the persons, involved in «the case on December 19,» citizens of Russia Artem Breus and Ivan Gaponov, suspended on March 1. During this meeting the court heard testimony of the police officers, who had been allegedly beaten by the Russians, detained during the protest on December 19 in Minsk. None of the questioned policemen stated of having been beaten exactly by Artem Breus and Ivan Gaponov.
At the court session on March 1 Breus and Gaponov were charged with beating of 15 Belarusian policemen on the day of presidential elections in Belarus, on December 19, 2010. The police officers, found the victims of the accused, are as follows: Bulovatski, Skorokhod, Kudriavets, Kshtalanov, Ivashko, Volkov, Zienkievich, Dalidovich, Komar, Sapach Polovinkin, Levitski, Masalski, Pilipeiko and Karavaev.
