A criminal case against active participants of the December 19 mass riots will go to trial in early February, Interior Minister Anatol Kulyashow told reporters in Minsk on Wednesday.
According to General Kulyashow, during court proceedings, journalists will be able to see with their own eyes whether there were provocations on the part of secret services during the December 19 post-election protest in Independence Square in Minsk.
As Mr. Kulyashow said, a total of 50 people were arrested on suspicion of active involvement in the December 19 mass riots. Formal charges have been brought against 37 of them. Out of the 37 people, 33 are being held in pre-trial detention centers and four are free on their own recognizance. Twelve people have suspect status.
Sixteen of the 50 people have previous criminal records, Mr. Kulyashow noted.
