MOSCOW, July 13 (RIA Novosti) - A defense lawyer acting for a Belarusian opposition leader said that he expected his client to face a lengthy jail term if found guilty in a trial Thursday.
Alexander Kozulin, a former presidential candidate and leader of the Social Democratic Party, was arrested during protests in the capital, Minsk, on March 25 against the results of the presidential elections of March 19. He is facing charges of hooliganism, violating public order, and refusing to obey to law-enforcement officers. Under the law, Kozulin, 50, may be fined or face six years in prison.
"The verdict could be tough," Igor Rynkevich said, adding that the defense had no illusions.
He said the verdict would be announced at 5.45 p.m. local time (2.45 GMT).
"Prosecutors have demanded a maximum term of six years in jail for Kozulin," the lawyer said, adding that the lawyers were seeking an acquittal, citing lack of criminal substance in Kozulin's actions.
Kozulin was one of three opposition candidates against President Alexander Lukashenko in presidential elections. Lukashenko, dubbed "Europe's last dictator" by Washington, won a landslide victory with 83% of the official vote in a ballot the opposition and international observers said was fraudulent.
Opposition activists subsequently staged a five-day sit-in in Minsk's central Oktyabrskaya Square. The March 25 demonstration was broken up by police and opposition representatives say at least one person died as a result.
