Maxim Znak

{{short description|Belarusian lawyer and pro-democracy activist}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Maxim Znak

| image = Maxim Znak 2020 02.jpg

| caption = Znak in 2020

| native_name = {{nobold|Максім Знак}}

| native_name_lang = be

| other_names =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|09|04|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
(now Belarus)

| disappeared_date =

| disappeared_status =

| citizenship = Belarusian

| nationality = Belarusian

| alma_mater = Belarusian State University

| occupation = Politician, lawyer

| employer =

| title =

| spouse =

| awards =

| website =

}}

Maxim Aliaksandravič Znak ({{Langx|be|Максім Аляксандравіч Знак}}; born 4 September 1981{{Cite web|title=Maxim Znak {{!}} VK|url=https://m.vk.com/id7194498|access-date=2020-09-09|website=m.vk.com}}) is a Belarusian lawyer and politician, part of Viktar Babaryka's team, lawyer of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya,{{cite web |title=Адвокат Тихановской подал жалобу о признании выборов недействительными |url=https://www.interfax.ru/world/722760 |website=interfax.ru}} 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.

File:First press conference of the Coordination Council of Belarus.jpg, 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 Viktar Babaryka, who was jailed in June 2020 during the Lukashenko 26-year presidency of Belarus, prior to the 2020 Belarusian presidential election. Babaryka had intended to contest the 2020 Belarus election before being rejected by election officials.

Coordination Council and detention

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.

On 9 September 2020, he was abducted and detained by a gang of masked men wearing plain clothes.{{Cite news|date=2020-09-09|title=Maxim Znak: 'Masked men' seize opposition figure in Belarus|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54079337|access-date=2020-09-09}}{{Cite web|title=Another Belarus opposition figure detained by 'masked men'|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/belarus-opposition-figure-detained-masked-men-200909084534491.html|access-date=2020-09-09|archivedate=2020-09-09|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909155851/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/belarus-opposition-figure-detained-masked-men-200909084534491.html|website=www.aljazeera.com}} Prior to his detention, he was widely regarded as the last active member of the Coordination Council.{{Cite web|last=Kyiv|first=Associated Press in|date=2020-09-09|title=Belarus opposition figure Maxim Znak taken from office by masked men|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/09/belarus-opposition-figure-maxim-znak-taken-from-office-by-masked-men|access-date=2020-09-09|website=the Guardian|language=en}} He was detained by supporters of Lukashenko just two days after the forced deportation of his colleague and the former opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova.{{Cite web|title=Another Belarus opposition politician, Maxim Znak, is seized by masked men|url=https://www.wionews.com/world/another-belarus-opposition-politician-maxim-znak-is-seized-by-masked-men-326232|access-date=2020-09-09|website=WION|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-09|title=Belarus opposition lawyer, Maxim Znak, detained by masked men|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/belarus-opposition-lawyer-maxim-znak-detained-by-masked-men-884821.html|access-date=2020-09-09|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}} Znak's colleagues stated that he was detained in Minsk and that he had texted the word "masks" to them after his abduction.{{Cite web|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche|title='Masked men' seize another Belarus opposition figure in Minsk {{!}} DW {{!}} 09.09.2020|url=https://www.dw.com/en/masked-men-seize-another-belarus-opposition-figure-in-minsk/a-54861716|access-date=2020-09-09|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB}} {{As of|2020|09|09}}, the Coordination Council has been unable to contact Maxim Znak following his detention.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-09|title=Another Belarus opposition politician is taken away by masked men|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/09/belarusian-opposition-politician-reportedly-taken-by-masked-people.html|access-date=2020-09-09|website=CNBC|language=en}} He has been briefly described as a "missing person".{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

On 9 November 2020 Znak's attorneys announced that his detention had been extended to 9 January 2021.https://news.tut.by/economics/707110.html {{Dead link|date=August 2022}} As of 21 January 2021, he has remained in SIZO No. 1 in Minsk.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-01-29|title=Письма из "таких мест". Юрист Максим Знак: "Там в прекрасном далеко просто должно быть хорошо"|url=https://www.b-g.by/news/pisma-iz-takih-mest-yurist-maksim-znak-tam-v-prekrasnom-daleko-prosto-dolzhno-byit-horosho/|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130184612/https://www.b-g.by/news/pisma-iz-takih-mest-yurist-maksim-znak-tam-v-prekrasnom-daleko-prosto-dolzhno-byit-horosho/|archivedate=2021-01-30|accessdate=2021-01-30|website=|publisher=Brestskaya Gazeta|language=ru}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/ru/v-belarusi-predjavleny-novye-obvinenija-marii-kolesnikovoj-i-maksimu-znaku/a-56544006|title = В Беларуси предъявлены новые обвинения Марии Колесниковой и Максиму Знаку | DW | 12.02.2021|website = Deutsche Welle}} On 9 March, Znak's attorney announced that his pre-trial detention had been extended through 9 May 2021.https://news.tut.by/economics/721689.html {{Dead link|date=August 2022}}

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.{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/04/tearing-up-my-passport-was-the-right-decision

|title = 'Tearing up my passport was the right decision' Belarusian oppositionist Maria Kolesnikova talks to Dozhd ahead of trial in Minsk

|publisher = Meduza

|date = 2021-08-04

|accessdate = 2021-08-25

}}{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/08/04/belarus-protest-leader-kolesnikova-goes-on-trial-a74693

|title = Belarus Protest Leader Kolesnikova Goes on Trial

|publisher = The Moscow Times

|date = 2021-08-04

|accessdate = 2021-08-25

}}{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58114107

|title = Belarus crackdown fails to crush opposition spirit

|publisher = BBC

|date = 2021-08-07

|accessdate = 2021-08-25

}} Both pleaded not 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'.{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://belsat.eu/en/news/23-08-2021-maksim-znak-testifies-in-court/

|title = Maksim Znak testifies in court

|publisher = Belsat.eu

|date = 2021-08-23

|accessdate = 2021-08-25

}}

On 6 September 2021, Znak was sentenced to 10 years in prison.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-kalesnikava-znak-verdict/31445578.html|title=West Condemns Belarus After Two Opposition Activists Handed Harsh Jail Terms|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=7 September 2021 }}{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58395120

|title = Belarus jail terms for opposition figures Kolesnikova and Znak

|publisher = The BBC

|date = 2021-09-06

|accessdate = 2021-09-06

}} Amnesty International condemned the sentence.{{Cite web|url=https://eurasia.amnesty.org/2021/09/06/belorusskie-oppoziczionery-mariya-kolesnikova-i-maksim-znak-prigovoreny-k-11-i-10-godam-sootvetstvenno/|title=Белорусские оппозиционеры Мария Колесникова и Максим Знак приговорены к 11 и 10 годам соответственно|date=6 September 2021|website=Amnesty International}} On September 21, 2021, Znak and Kalesnikava appealed against their sentences to the State Supreme Court.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://ria.ru/20210921/apellyatsiya-1751151129.html

|title = Колесникова и Знак обжаловали приговор

|trans-title=Kalesnikava and Znak Appeal Against Sentence

|publisher = RIA Novosti

|date = 2021-09-21

|accessdate = 2021-10-08

}}