Maxim Znak

Maxim Aliaksandravič Znak (Belarusian: Максім Аляксандравіч Знак; born 4 September 1981[1]) is a Belarusian lawyer and politician, part of Viktar Babaryka's team, lawyer of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya,[2] and a member of the presidium of the Coordination Council formed during the 2020–21 Belarusian protests in opposition to the rule of Alexander Lukashenko. Along with fellow opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova, Znak actively participated in the demonstrations and protests against the Lukashenko government after Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya had left the country. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Belarusian authorities.[3]

Maxim Znak, Olga Kovalkova, and Maria Kolesnikova during the first press conference of the Coordination Council of Belarus
In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming conventions, the patronymic is Aliaksandravič and the family name is Znak.

Maxim Znak
Максім Знак
Born (1981-09-04) 4 September 1981
Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
(now Belarus)
NationalityBelarusian
CitizenshipBelarusian
Alma materBelarusian State University
Occupation(s)Politician, lawyer
Websitewww.borovtsovsalei.com/ru/team/maksim-znak

Childhood and education

Znak obtained his PhD in Law from the Belarusian State University.

Znak provided legal support for presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, who was jailed in June 2020 during the Lukashenko 26-year presidency of Belarus, prior to the 2020 Belarusian presidential election.[4] Babaryka had intended to contest the 2020 Belarus election before being rejected by election officials.

Coordination Council and detention
Main article: Coordination Council (Belarus)

Znak is one of the members of the presidium of the Coordination Council of Belarus that aims to help coordinate a transition to democracy in Belarus.[4]

On 9 September 2020, he was abducted and detained by a gang of masked men wearing plain clothes.[4][5] Prior to his detention, he was widely regarded as the last active member of the Coordination Council.[6] He was detained by supporters of Lukashenko just two days after the forced deportation of his colleague and the former opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova.[7] On 9 September, Znak had planned to attend a video press conference with Babaryka. He was kidnapped by masked men and did not attend the press conference.[8] Znak's colleagues stated that he was detained in Minsk and that he had texted the word "masks" to them after his abduction.[9] As of 9 September 2020, the Coordination Council has been unable to contact Maxim Znak following his detention.[10] He has been briefly described as a "missing person".

On 9 November 2020 Znak's attorneys announced that his detention had been extended to 9 January 2021.[11] As of 21 January 2021, he has remained in SIZO No. 1 in Minsk.[12]

On February 12, Znak and fellow Coordination Council member Maria Kalesnikava were charged with “conspiracy to seize state power in an unconstitutional manner” and “establishing and leading an extremist organization.[13] On 9 March, Znak's attorney announced that his pre-trial detention had been extended through 9 May 2021.[14]

Starting 4 August 2021, after almost 11 months in custody, Znak and Kalesnikava stood trial behind closed doors in the Minsk Regional Court. They faced up to 12 years in prison.[15][16][17] Both pleaded non guilty. Throughout the investigation and trial, the details of the charges were not publicly disclosed. The attorneys of Kalesnikava and Znak were under a nondisclosure agreement. Znak explained that the court sessions were closed because the authorities did not want the public to know that 'the charges are not reality based'.[18]

On 6 September 2021, Znak was sentenced to 10 years in prison.[3][19] Amnesty International condemned the sentence.[20] On September 21, 2021, Znak and Kalesnikava appealed against their sentences to the State Supreme Court.[21]

See also

References
  1. "Maxim Znak | VK". m.vk.com. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  2. "Адвокат Тихановской подал жалобу о признании выборов недействительными". interfax.ru.
  3. "West Condemns Belarus After Two Opposition Activists Handed Harsh Jail Terms". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 7 September 2021.
  4. "Maxim Znak: 'Masked men' seize opposition figure in Belarus". BBC News. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  5. "Another Belarus opposition figure detained by 'masked men'". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  6. Kyiv, Associated Press in (9 September 2020). "Belarus opposition figure Maxim Znak taken from office by masked men". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  7. "Another Belarus opposition politician, Maxim Znak, is seized by masked men". WION. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  8. "Belarus opposition lawyer, Maxim Znak, detained by masked men". Deccan Herald. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  9. Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "'Masked men' seize another Belarus opposition figure in Minsk | DW | 09.09.2020". DW.COM. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  10. "Another Belarus opposition politician is taken away by masked men". CNBC. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  11. https://news.tut.by/economics/707110.html
  12. "Письма из "таких мест". Юрист Максим Знак: "Там в прекрасном далеко просто должно быть хорошо"" (in Russian). Brestskaya Gazeta. 29 January 2021. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  13. "В Беларуси предъявлены новые обвинения Марии Колесниковой и Максиму Знаку | DW | 12.02.2021". Deutsche Welle.
  14. https://news.tut.by/economics/721689.html
  15. "'Tearing up my passport was the right decision' Belarusian oppositionist Maria Kolesnikova talks to Dozhd ahead of trial in Minsk". Meduza. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  16. "Belarus Protest Leader Kolesnikova Goes on Trial". The Moscow Times. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  17. "Belarus crackdown fails to crush opposition spirit". BBC. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  18. "Maksim Znak testifies in court". Belsat.eu. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  19. "Belarus jail terms for opposition figures Kolesnikova and Znak". The BBC. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  20. "Белорусские оппозиционеры Мария Колесникова и Максим Знак приговорены к 11 и 10 годам соответственно". Amnesty International. 6 September 2021.
  21. "Колесникова и Знак обжаловали приговор" [Kalesnikava and Znak Appeal Against Sentence] (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
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