Two more defendants in the “Pinsk case” have been given prison sentences.
Stsyapan Drozd was sentenced to 4 years in a reinforced regime colony, and Illya Bohan to 3.5 years in a reinforced regime colony. The sentence was pronounced in Brest on October 21 by Judge Andrei Hrushko, who has already been sanctioned by the European Union for political convictions.
The Pinsk dwellers were tried for protesting on August 9-10, 2020 in their hometown. They all were accused of “participation in mass riots” (part 2 Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus). On the evening of August 9, Pinsk residents who wanted to know the results of the election gathered near the local executive committee. There were clashes with the police as people began to defend themselves from the attacks of law enforcement officers.
Later a criminal case was brought against 26 people.
The sentence of the first 14 people was announced on April 30, when Judge Yauhen Brehan sentenced
- Syarрei Maгshuk and Alyaksandr Tserashko to 6.5 years in a reinforced regime colony;
- Raman Bahnavets, Daniil Bohnat, Ryhor Hunke, Syarhei Lyazhenka, Stanislau Mikhailau, Vyachaslau Rahashchuk, Ihar Salavey, Artur Halimonchyk were sentenced to 6 years in a strict regime colony;
- mother of many children, Alena Maushuk, got 6 years in a minimum-security penal colony;
- David Mastitski, Aleg Rubets, Vyachaslau Shalyamet got 5.5 years in a strict regime colony.
The verdict of the second group of 10 people was pronounced by Judge Vera Filonik.
- Alyaksandr Lapukh got 5 years and 6 months, Syarhei Tsibets, Valyantsina Kolba, and Andrei Khveskavets — 5 years each;
- Leanid Hermanovich, Andrei Motsuk, Alyaksandr Shandyba — 4 years and 6 months each; Syarhei Volkau;
- Alyaksandr Shalamitsky, Syarhei Shalamitski — 4 years each.
