Three men on trial over attempts to halt deliveries of Russian hardware to Ukraine

January 23, BPN. The Viasna Human Rights Center reports that Dźmitryj Klimaŭ, Jaŭhien Minkievič and Uładzimir Aŭramcaŭ went on trial in the Mahiloŭ Regional Court on January 23, behind closed doors. Judge Ihar Šviedaŭ presides over the proceedings.

The Babrujsk-based men are charged with terrorism and high treason for the destruction of two relay cabinets with signaling equipment near Asipovičy to prevent Russia from transporting troops and military hardware to Ukraine.

The men, in their twenties, were arrested in March 2022.

Security forces used weapons, wounding Klimaŭ. In a video posted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he has bandaged knees and can hardly answer officers’ questions.

“During the arrest, the men showed active resistance and tried to escape,” the ministry said.

Human rights activists say their persecution is politically motivated.

Sabotage on Belarusian railways began shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine from Belarusian territory in February 2022. Rail partisans were damaging relay cabinets automating the movement of trains. Some were brutally arrested and have received long prison sentences.