The verdict in the BYPOL case was passed: from 11 to 25 years in a penal colony
On February 15, the Minsk City Court convicted the founders and ex-members of BYPOL, the organization of former security officers, Aliaksandr Azarau, Matvei Kupreichyk, Ihar Loban, Andrei Astapovich, Uladzimir Zhyhar, and Aleh Talerchyk in a special proceeding. Judge Dzina Kuchuk sentenced the defendants in the case under 13 criminal articles from 11 to 25 years of imprisonment and a fine totaling more than 350,000 euros. Aliaksandr Azarau was accused of "treason against the state" (Article 356 of the Criminal Code).
The BYPOL initiative was created in October 2020 by former security forces who oppose repression and violence and disagree with Lukashenka's policies. In November 2021, BYPOL was recognized as an "extremist formation", and at the end of August 2022, the Supreme Court of Belarus recognized the organization as a "terrorist organization".
The special proceedings were initiated on September eighth, 2023.
The trial in the BYPOL case began on January 22, 2024. On February 8, the state prosecution requested from 11 to 25 years of imprisonment.
As a result, the court imposed the terms requested by the prosecutor.
Aliaksandr Azarau was sentenced to 25 years in a medium security penal colony and fined 400,000 rubles (113,585 euros) under Part 3 of Article 130 (incitement of other social hatred), Article 188 (slander), Part 4 of Article 16 and Part 3 of Article 289 (act of terrorism), Part 4 of Article 16, Article 18 and Parts 2, 4 of Article 309 (intentionally rendering a vehicle or means of communication unusable), Part 1 of Article 356 (treason to the state), Part 1 of Article 357 (conspiracy or other actions committed with the aim of seizing state power), Part 3 of Article 361 (calls for restrictive measures (sanctions), other actions against national security), Parts 1, 2 of Article 361-1 (creation of an extremist formation or participation in it), Part 2 of Article 368 (insulting Lukashenka), Article 369 (insulting a representative of the government) of the Criminal Code.
Uladzimir Zhyhar was sentenced to 12 years in a medium security penal colony and a fine of 200,000 rubles (56,744 euros) under Part 3 of Article 130 (incitement of other social hatred), Parts 1, 2 of Article 361-1 (creation of an extremist formation or participation in it) of the Criminal Code.
Matvei Kupreichyk was sentenced to 12 years in a medium security penal colony and a fine of 220,000 rubles (62,416 euros) under Part 3 of Article 130 (incitement of other social hatred), Parts 1, 2 of Article 361-1 (creation of an extremist formation or participation in it), Article 369 (insulting a representative of the government) of the Criminal Code.
Ihar Loban was sentenced to 12 years in a medium security penal colony and a fine of 200,000 rubles (56,744 euros) under Part 3 of Article 130 (incitement of other social hatred), Part 1 of Article 357 (conspiracy or other actions committed to seize state power), Parts 1, 2 of Article 361-1 (creation of an extremist formation or participation in it) of the Criminal Code.
Andrei Astapovich was sentenced to 11 years in a medium security penal colony and a fine of 200,000 rubles (56,744 euros) under Part 3 of Article 130 (incitement of other social hatred), Part 1 of Article 357 (conspiracy or other actions committed to seize state power), Part 1 of Article 361-1 (creation of an extremist formation or participation in it) of the Criminal Code.
Aleh Talerchyk was sentenced to 12 years in a medium security penal colony and a fine of 40,000 rubles under Parts 1, 3 of Article 130 (inciting other social hatred), Part 3 of Article 203-1 (illegal actions with respect to information about private life and personal data), Part 1 of Article 357 (conspiracy or other actions committed to seize state power), Part 3 of Article 361 (calls for restrictive measures (sanctions), other actions against national security), Part 1, 2 of Article 361-1 (creation of an extremist formation or participation in it), Part 1 of Article 361-4 (promotion of extremist activities), Part 2 of Article 367 (slander against Lukashenka) of the Criminal Code.
Recall that on March 6, 2021, a criminal case was initiated against Aleh Talerchyk, Ihar Loban, and "other persons" for "inciting other social hatred" (Article 130 of the Criminal Code).
In November 2021, BYPOL was recognized as an "extremist formation", and at the end of August 2022, the Supreme Court of Belarus recognized the organization as a "terrorist organization".
The BYPOL initiative was created in October 2020 by former security forces who oppose repression and violence and disagree with Lukashenka's policies. The organization is engaged in creating an independent trade union of law enforcement workers, drafting a law enforcement reform project, and collecting evidence of crimes committed by security forces against peaceful protesters.
Also, on August 9, 2021, the BYPOL initiative announced the creation of the Victory mobilization plan to "restore law and order in Belarus, as well as return power to the people in the country." Soon, the Victory plan was recognized by the authorities as "extremist". Belarusians are actively detained for getting registered in the chatbot of the plan.
