Austrian animal advocates

One of Austria’s leading animal rights activists, Martin Balluch spoke at the debut screening of The Trial in Prague on 23 August.

The documentary follows the case about Balluch and four others charged as organised crime members, or terrorists.

Under Austria’s Article 278a – in which a perpetrator’s attitude is evidence enough for conviction – the group underwent two years of surveillance, being watched even while they slept. After 14 months and millions of euros spent on the trial, all accused were found innocent on 2 May 2011.

Ewa Iwazuk, member of International Young Naturefriends NGO in Prague, organised the talk with Balluch at Kino Světozor. She told The Prague Post that Balluch is "a passionate and engaged activist with a history of acts of civil disobedience."