Political prisoner Mikita Yemelyanau is now on trial for violations of the prison regime. A criminal case under part 2 of article 411 of the Criminal Code “persistent disobedience to demands of the administration of a penitentiary” has been brought against the activist of the anarchist movement. The young man faces a new sentence of up to two years in jail, reports the human rights center “Viasna”.
On February 12, 2020, the 21-year-old activist of the anarchist movement Mikita Yemelyanau was sentenced to 7 years in a maximum-security penal colony. On March 27, on appeal, Minsk City Court reduced the term of the political prisoner to 4 years in a reinforced regime penal colony. The administration of the penal colony brought a criminal case against the activist under part 2 of article 411 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus — “persistent disobedience to demands of the administration of a penal institution”. The reason for this was that Mikita allegedly did not make a report in accordance with the established pattern, refused to shave and cut his hair, and did not get in line during the check-up in the cell. It is known that in this way the guy was showing his sign of protest against the actions of the prison administration, which refuses to deliver letters to him for far-fetched reasons.
At the trial, Mikita Yemelyanau refused to stand up when answering questions from the court.
“This is a rigged trial, not a real one, as there is no fair and independent court in our country,” said the activist.
Judge Aksana Ratnikava warned Mikita twice that the political prisoner could be removed from the session for contempt of court. In the end, that’s what happened.
The young man faces a new sentence of up to two years in jail.
