Post by Visargia on Jan 4, 2019 22:04:57 GMT
Well-Known Dissident Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison
By LEONARDA HABICH
DELPHINO, Delfina — On Friday evening the Kien Regional Court sentenced Mattias Nizzola, the former leader of the now banned Front for Liberty and Democracy, to 30 years in prison for his role in leading an organization deemed to be a domestic security threat. Nizzola had previously been in custody for almost 8 months in the lead up to his trial.
Nizzola previously worked for the Department of Internal Security in Lustenau. He was relieved of his position in 2011 and following this he went to found the Front for Liberty and Democracy with a number of other dissidents. However, he was not aware that he was under surveillance by his former employers and over the following 6 years they knew all about his work with the Front for Liberty and Democracy. In April, the police arrested Nizzola and he has not left their custody since. The Front for Liberty and Democracy was banned following this.
In the trial Nizzola's wife, 17-year-old nephew, and uncle all testified against him. In his wife's testimony she alleged that "they [the Front for Liberty and Democracy] had violent intentions to overthrow the government and kill whoever it took to place themselves in power. They held no respect for human life and simply wanted to place themselves in power". However, the Association of Visargine Political Exiles, based in Euding, have claimed that Mrs. Nizzola more than likely was given the testimony by the Department of Internal Security and ordered to read it out in court or face a trial of her own for the same charges.
Giannina Kohler of the Alliance Against Political Repression has said that "the trial of Mattias Nizzola was a complete sham and everyone knows it. It's like the regime in Kien doesn't even want their laughable trials to be believed. There evidence includes his uncle talking about the fights he had with his siblings as a young boy as a testimony to his dangerous character."
The panel of 5 judges agreed unanimously to sentencing Mr Nizzola to imprisonment for the maximum time available under the law. They described him as a "deeply troubled individual who poses a danger to our society" in their remarks regarding the decision. He will not be given time with his family before going into prison and his earliest chance at freedom will be 2039.
