Up to 5 years behind bars: 13 young people convicted for ‘mass riots’ in Brest
On May 21, Leninski district court of Brest sentenced 13 local residents for participating in the peaceful post-election protests in the summer of 2020. The public prosecutor demanded that the defendants get prison terms of up to 5 years.
The Belarusian authorities initiated a corresponding criminal case under Part 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (‘participation in mass riots’), it is more than 80 people involved in it. Most of them are youngsters.
Today judge Andrey Hrushko has taken heed of the prosecution’s demands and imposed the following sentences:
- 20-year-old Daniil Bandaruk – 5 years in a medium security penal colony;
- 21-year-old Mark Salonikau – 4.5 years in a medium security penal colony;
- 27-year-old Viktar Pantsyaleyeu – 4 years in a medium security penal colony;
- 18-year-old Vitaliya Bandarenka – 4 years in a medium security penal colony;
- 26-year-old Dzyanis Marusevich – 4 years in a medium security penal colony;
- 22=year-old Uladzimir Rubasheuski – 4 years in a medium security penal colony;
- 32-year-old Vyachaslau Kastsyuchyk – 4 years in a medium security penal colony;
- 20-year-old Maksim Zinevich – 4 years in a medium security penal colony;
- 24-year-old Mikhail Kalishuk – 4 years in a medium security penal colony;
- 22-year-old Andrey Hryshchuk – 3.5 years in a medium security penal colony;
- 23-year-old Siman Kantsevich – 3.5 years in a medium security penal colony;
- Underaged Alyaksandr Vinyarski – 3 years in a juvenile correctional facility;
- Underaged Eduard Kudynyuk – 3 years in a juvenile correctional facility
Three convicts fully admitted the charge, seven – partially. Vitaliya Bandarenka, Daniil Bandaruk and Mark Salonikau pleaded not guilty, HRC Viasna reports. Some of those who have heard out their verdicts today were earlier recognised as political prisoners by the Belarusian human rights community.
The third group of defendants in this case is be tried next week.
AC belsat.eu
