“Rail partisan” Melnik goes on trial behind closed doors

December 5, BPN. The Minsk Regional Court has started hearing a case against Vital Melnik, 40, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Authorities accuse Melnik of an arson attack on the railway’s relay cabinet in March 2022. Prosecutors say that his actions “created a real threat of grave consequences in the form of an accident, damage to the rolling stock, death or injury to people.”

Police allegedly found unregistered guns in his car and home. In addition, authorities accuse Melnik of repeatedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka.

Police shot Melnik in the knees during his arrest. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Judge Anžalika Daniłava presides over the proceedings. She is known for a number of politically-motivated verdicts. 

Sabotage on the Belarusian railway started after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24 as a form of antiwar protest. The goal was to slow down the transportation of Russian military equipment through Belarus to the warzone.