Photo: Radio Liberty
Viktor Babariko was considered the most popular alternative candidate for Alexander Lukashenko
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The defendant did not admit his guilt and refused to testify in court. In the last word, he said that he could not confess to a crime that he did not commit.
The Supreme Court of Belarus sentenced the former head of Belgazprombank, ex-presidential candidate Viktor Babariko to 14 years in prison. About it informs Interfax on Tuesday 6 July.
Viktor Babariko was found guilty of receiving especially large bribes and money laundering.
The defendant did not admit his guilt and refused to testify in court. In the last word, he said that he could not confess to a crime that he did not commit.
“I am not ashamed in front of my relatives, because there was no illegal actions and even a hint of committing illegal actions. I am not ashamed in front of the bank employees, because the best bank in the country was created,” Babariko said.
According to the investigation and the court, Babariko and other top managers of Belgazprombank, acting in the interests of a number of commercial structures, illegally received monetary rewards from representatives of these organizations from 2004 to 2020. The accused, except for Babariko, admitted their guilt in the incriminated crimes in full.
The state prosecutor asked to sentence Babariko to 15 years in prison.
Recall that in May 2020, Babariko left the post of head of Belgazprombank in connection with the decision to participate in the presidential elections. He collected signatures in support of his nomination and was detained and arrested in mid-June. Then the election commission refused to register him… Together with Babariko, his son Eduard, who was the head of the campaign headquarters, was arrested.
Prior to his arrest, Viktor Babariko was considered one of the most serious possible rivals of Alexander Lukashenko in the August 9 presidential elections.
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