Political prisoner sentenced to 3 years in prison for laying a funeral wreath in front of a police officer’s house

On December 14, 2021, Dziaržynsk District and City Court found political prisoner Andrei Runtso guilty under Art. 364 (Violence or threat of violence against police officer) and Art. 389 (Threat against a judge or a lay judge) of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to three years in prison.

Also, judge Raman Krylovich obliged Andrei Runtso to compensate non-pecuniary damage of 1,500 rubles (about USD 595) to the victim. The state prosecution was represented by the deputy prosecutor of the Dzerzhinsky district Aliaksandr Kardzis.

Andrei Runtso, a father of two children who has a disability,was detained on July 1, 2021. Initially, he faced charges for bringing a ritual wreath to the policeman's house under Part 2 of Art. 339 of the Criminal Code (Hooliganism).