Heavy jail terms imposed on defendants in Telegram chats case, most of them are political prisoners
On July 19, Leninski district court of Minsk passed guilty verdicts in the so called Telegram chats case. Ten political prisoners have been convicted, human rights centre Viasna reports.
All of them were accused of participating in several ‘radical’ Telegram chats. The case file mentioned ‘OGSB’ (Civil Self-Defense Detachment) and ‘Podrabotka Minsk’ (Side Jobs in Minsk), among others. In addition, they allegedly intend to damage or destroy three tobacco shops.
They were charged under Article 293 of the Criminal Code (‘rioting’), Art. 218 (‘deliberate destruction or damage to private property’) and Art. 295 of the Criminal Code (illegal actions with firearms, ammunition and explosives).
Judge Dzmitry Astapenka took heed of public prosecutor Alyaksandr Ramanovich’s demands and imposed the following sentences:
- Five years in a medium-security penal colony on 23-year-old optician Artsiom Kasakouski, 37-year-old Dzmitry Lastouski, 31-year-old Dzmitry Zheburtovich;
- Eight years in a medium-security penal colony on 40-year-old construction worker Pavel Nyadbaila, 33-year-old architect and designer Rastsislau Stefanovich, 26-year-old welder Yauhen Prapolski, 23-year-old Alyaksandr Reznik,48-year-old system administrator Syarhei Plonis;
- 20-year-old Artsiom Mitsuk, Aliaksandr Yurchyk ( the latter is not a political prisoner);
- Nine years in a medium-security penal colony on 38-year-old military engineer and sales manager Yury Byalko
Several political prisoners reported torture during arrest or being forced to sign confessions.
belsat.eu, via spring96.org
