First trial upon "December 19" case (UPDATED)

He is accused of mass disturbances which took place on December 19, 2010 in Minsk.

Vasil Parfiankou is accused of having hit the wooden fences 61 times. However, he claims he only pushed them. He also says that Sannikau, Rymasheuski and Statkevich urged for peaceful character of the action exclusively. 

Parfiankou is interrogated at the moment. He disagrees with the accusation of massacre. Vasil Parfiankou has admitted his guilt partly, that he participated in the demonstration, in the rally, but did not break the glass in the building. 

A civil plaintiff has filed a claim for 14 million 48 thousand roubles in order to replace the doors and pipes in the building at the address Savetskaya Street, 11.

The trial has started with Vasil Parfiankou's interrogation by the judge Komar.

Journalists have been admitted to the court hall. The court employees have warned that photographers and video-operators cannot shoot during the trial itself. The judge also asked the journalists who coundn't obtain seats in the hall, to leave.

A human rights defender Ales Bialiatski has informed on air to Euroradio that many people have failed to get into the court hall, which admits only 40 people. Among the present there are not just journalists of Belarusian (both state and independent) and foreign media, but also people who have come to support the activist.

Let us remind you, Vasil Parfiankou has partcicipated in the opposition actions for about 10 years, he was one of the Kurapaty defenders. Last year he was a member of Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu's electoral HQ.  "A person with an active civil position", — Bialiatski has said about Parfiankou.