This is, the agency recalls, a resounding affair in the wake of the events of August 2020, which was brought under control by the head of the state security committee.
The defendants from the regions of Gomel, Brest, Vitebsk, Grodno and the Belarusian capital at one time joined an extremist formation which operated with the support of diasporas abroad and centers of political émigrés, and was controlled by the American and Lithuanian special services.
During the trial it was proved that in fact Rabochy Rukh aimed to hit the industrial segment of the country, railway communications and other areas. The defendants collected and transmitted limited-use data on the activities, including those of the Belarusian flagships.
For conspiracy purposes, a closed group “Expanded Round Table” was created, where members of the extremist group analyzed the work done and set new tasks. Thus, hundreds of files have gone abroad which could harm both industrial companies and national security. For the work done, the Rukhites received material rewards. A number of episodes have also been established which can be interpreted as high treason.
The materials of the case are collected in nearly forty volumes, specify the information portals. The meetings were held for 3.5 months. The trial took place in the presence of the people’s assessors.
The panel of judges found the defendants guilty. Anna Alablab was eventually sentenced to 11 years in prison to be served in a penal colony. Sergey Dzyuba, Igor Mints, Valentin Terenevich and Sergey Shametko – from 12 years in a high-security colony, Alexander Gashnikov, Andrey Pogerilo and Sergey Shelest – from 14 years in a high-security colony, and Vladimir Zhuravko and Alexander Kapshul – from 15 years in a high security colony. They also have to pay fines.
The verdict has not yet come into effect and may be appealed, the agency adds.
