Square on December 19 after demonstration was dispersed: no spades, no bottles (Photo)

• 29.04.2011, 17:29

Photos made just after dispersal of a demonstration on Independence Square in Minsk were demonstrated at the trial over Andrei Sannikov.

On April 29, the third day of trial over presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov, witness for the defence Pyotr Kuchko was questioned. Witness Kuchko said he had gone to a demonstration on December 19 to hear the candidates. The action was peaceful. He learned about the demonstration at a meeting with opposition candidates. He went to the action alone and was on October Square at 7 in the evening, Radio Svaboda reports.

“The opposition candidates appeared at about 8 pm. There was not enough place for demonstrators on the square. Music and an ice rink were disturbing them,” the witness said.

Nobody hindered people when they walked to Independence Avenue. An inspiring and enthusiastic atmosphere prevailed at the rally.

Kuchko said he remained on the square after the demonstration had been dispersed. Riot policemen did not turn attention to him, an old man. He said there were no bottles, ice axes, cans and other things showed in a film “Iron against the Glass” by BT, a Belarusian TV channel. The witness called the film was a fake and said he had made five photos of the Square after the dispersal on his mobile phone. The pictures show columns of police and a car, but no items showed by BT and mentioned in the materials of the case were seen.

Kuchko asked to attach the photos to the case, but the prosecutor protested. The lawyers supported Kuchko.

Kuchko said he was ready to show the camera to experts. The judge expressed her surprise why the witness was not arrested by police.

Kuchko told Radio Svaboda he was not arrested because policemen perhaps thought he was one of them. He could see the square after the dispersal. It was clean without any items there.

Later, a film “Iron against the Glass” showed spades, bottles, iron poles and cans with flame liquid on the square. Kuchko was indignant and decided to refute this in court.

The judge denied a motion to attach the photos to the case, because it would take too much time.

The lawyers insist the camera must be seized to figure out when the files were created.

Pictures from a BT film "Iron against the Glass":