On April 21, the Minsk Municipal Court heard appeals and a prosecutorial protest in the case of Viasna human rights defenders Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Uladzimir Labkovich, who were sentenced to harsh prison terms of 7 to 10 years on March 3.  The court, presided over by Sviatlana Bandarenka, left the appeals of the Viasna members and their defenders unsatisfied, but satisfied the prosecutor's protest, which asked to change the wording of the verdict. The verdict against the political prisoners has now taken effect, and they will soon be transferred to colonies.

The prosecutor brought a protest, and the political prisoners appealed the verdict, which was scheduled for review in less than two months. 

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