Maxim Znak

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In this Eastern Slavic naming convention, the patronymic is Maxim and the family name is Znak.
Maxim Znak
Максім Аляксандравіч Знак
Maxim Znak 2020 02.jpg
Born (1981-09-04) September 4, 1981 (age 39)
Minsk, Belarus
CitizenshipBelarus
Alma materBelarusian State University
OccupationPolitician, lawyer
Websitewww.borovtsovsalei.com/ru/team/maksim-znak

Maxim Znak (Belarusian: Максім Аляксандравіч Знак, born 4 September 1981[1]) is a Belarusian lawyer and politician, part of Viktar Babaryka's team, member of the presidium of the Coordination Council formed during the 2020–21 Belarusian protests in opposition to the rule of Alexander Lukashenko. Following the exit of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Znak along with fellow opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova actively participated in the demonstrations and protests against the Lukashenko government. Lawyer of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya[2]

Maxim Znak, Olga Kovalkova, and Maria Kolesnikova during the first press conference of the Coordination Council of Belarus

Childhood and education[]

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

Legal career[]

Znak provided legal support for presidential candidate Viktor Babaryko, who was jailed in June 2020 during the Lukashenko 26-year presidency of Belarus, prior to the 2020 Belarusian presidential election.[3] 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.[3]

On 9 September 2020, he was abducted and detained by a gang of masked men wearing plain clothes.[3][4] Prior to his detention, he was widely regarded as the last active member of the Coordination Council.[5] He was detained by supporters of Lukashenko just two days after the forced deportation of his colleague and the former opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova.[6] 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.[7] Znak's colleagues stated that he was detained in Minsk and that he had texted the word "masks" to them after his abduction.[8] As of 9 September 2020, the Coordination Council had been unable to contact Maxim Znak following his detention.[9] He has been briefly described as a "missing person".[citation needed]

On 9 November, 2020 Znak's attorneys announced that his detention had been extended to 9 January, 2021[10]

As of 21 January, 2021, he remains in SIZO No. 1 in Minsk.[11]

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.[12]

On 9 March, Znak's attorney announced that his pre-trial detention had been extended through 9 May 2021.[13]

On August 4, 2021, the closed trial of Znak and Maria Kalesnikava started in Minsk. They face up to 12 years in prison.[14][15][16] Both deny any guilt. Znak explains, that court sessions are closed because the authorities do not want the public to know, that 'charges are not based on reality'. Maxim gave detailed testimony refuting all the acts charged against him.[17]

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. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Maxim Znak: 'Masked men' seize opposition figure in Belarus". BBC News. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Another Belarus opposition figure detained by 'masked men'". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  5. ^ Kyiv, Associated Press in (9 September 2020). "Belarus opposition figure Maxim Znak taken from office by masked men". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Another Belarus opposition politician, Maxim Znak, is seized by masked men". WION. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Belarus opposition lawyer, Maxim Znak, detained by masked men". Deccan Herald. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  8. ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "'Masked men' seize another Belarus opposition figure in Minsk | DW | 09.09.2020". DW.COM. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Another Belarus opposition politician is taken away by masked men". CNBC. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  10. ^ https://news.tut.by/economics/707110.html
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "В Беларуси предъявлены новые обвинения Марии Колесниковой и Максиму Знаку | DW | 12.02.2021".
  13. ^ https://news.tut.by/economics/721689.html
  14. ^ "'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.
  15. ^ "Belarus Protest Leader Kolesnikova Goes on Trial". The Moscow Times. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Belarus crackdown fails to crush opposition spirit". BBC. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Maksim Znak testifies in court". Belsat.eu. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
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