Harsh sentence for philosopher Uladzimir Matskevich

On June 23, the Minsk Regional Court sentenced political prisoner, philosopher, and founder of the Flying University Uladzimir Matskevich to five years of imprisonment in medium-security penal colony.

The case was considered by Judge Siarhei Yepikhau, notorious for convicting Mariya Kalesnikava and Maksim Znak.

Uladzimir Matskevich was accused of organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order (Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code), creating an extremist formation (Part 1 of Article 361-1), and insulting the President (part 1 of article 368).

He was arrested in a criminal case on August 4, 2021, after his apartment was searched as part of a criminal investigation. He was first charged with active actions grossly violating public order (Article 342 of the Criminal Code). On January 4, 2022, he was remanded in custody for another month, until February 4. From Uladimir's statement on ending the hunger strike, it became known that he was also charged with ‘creating an extremist formation’.

Before the trial, he was kept in pre-trial detention center No. 1 in Minsk.

The closed-door hearings began on June 9.

Today, June 23, 2022, the court found Uladzimir Matskevich guilty and sentenced him to five years in a medium-security penal colony.