Political prisoner gets 18 months in jail for protest slogans and ribbons
On August 16, 2022, the Maskoŭski District Court of Brest considered the case of political prisoner Iryna Pryhava, who was charged under three criminal articles: Parts 1 and 2 of Article 368 ‘Insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus’, Part 1 of Article 339 ‘Hooliganism’ and Article 341 ‘Desecration of buildings and damage to property’.
Judge Tatsiana Lauraniuk presided over the hearings, the state prosecution was represented by prosecutor Yahor Kronda. Pryhava, 57, represented herself without the assistance of a lawyer.
The woman was accused of hanging white-red-white ribbons and flags on the streets of Brest from January 22 to March 6, 2022.
The prosecution classified these actions as ‘hooliganism’ (Part 1 of Article 339 of the Criminal Code).
On July 22, 2022, the Investigative Committee also charged Pryhava with ‘insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus’ Part 1 and Part 2 of Art. 368— the prosecution alleged that she left insulting slogans on buildings.
In court, Pryhava did not admit to this part of the accusation, although she had testified during the investigation that she had written slogans. The woman explained that at the time of the first interrogations she was under pressure and feared for her relatives, especially her daughter.
On August 16, 2022, the Maskoŭski District Court of Brest found Iryna Pryhava guilty of ‘insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus’ and ‘hooliganism’ and sentenced her to 18 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony. Also, as requested by the prosecutor, the political prisoner will have to pay a fine of 398 Belarusian roubles 20 kopeks (160 US dollars) for forensic examinations.
