The case of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's analysts: two hundred six and a half years of imprisonment
The verdict has been passed in the criminal case of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's analysts. The trial took place in the Minsk Regional Court and lasted from May 31 to July 1. There are 20 defendants in the case: Aliaksandr Dabravolski, Ryhor Astapenia, Filip Bikanau, Yury Drakakhrust, Andrei Kazakevich, Hanna Krasulina, Yauhen Kryzhanouski, Dzianis Kuchynski, Veranika Laputska, Aliaksandr Lahvinets, Hanna Liubakova, Vasil Navumau, Maryia Rohava, Piotr Rudkouski, Alesia Rudnik, Natallia Rabava, Pavel Usau, Tatsiana Chulitskaya, Aliaksandr Shlyk, Katsiaryna Shmatsina.
The case was handled by judge Uladzimir Areshka.
According to the case materials, all analysts were accused of committing crimes of an extremist nature in connection with Aliaksandr Lukashenka's campaign for the elections, as well as in the post-electoral period:
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conspiracy to seize state power by unconstitutional means (Part 1 of Article 357 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus);
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participation in an extremist formation and joining such a formation in order to commit an extremist crime (Part 3 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code);
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assistance in public calls to seize state power; committing other actions to the detriment of the national security of the Republic of Belarus; appeals directed to a foreign state, foreign and international organization, committing actions to the detriment of the national security of the Republic of Belarus using the media and the Internet (Part 6 of Article 16, Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (as amended on May 26, 2021);
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assistance in deliberate actions aimed at inciting social hatred and hostility based on other social affiliation committed by a group of persons (Part 6 of Article 16, Part 3 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus).
In addition, Aliaksandr Dabravolski was accused of leading an extremist formation (Part 1 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code).
All the accused left Belarus, and special proceedings were started against them.
The accused were sentenced to the following penalties: Aliaksandra Dabravolski to 11 years and 6 months of imprisonment with a fine of 240,000 rubles (more than 68,400 euros);
Hanna Krasulina, Dzianis Kuchynski, Piotr Rudkouski, Aliaksandra Shlyk to 11 years of imprisonment with fines ranging from from 40,000 rubles to 1.6 million rubles (11,400 to 456,000 euros);
Ryhor Astapenia, Filip Bikanau, Yury Drakakhrust, Andrei Kazakevich, Yauhen Kryzhanouski, Veranika Laputska, Aliaksandr Lahvinets, Hanna Liubakova, Vasil Navumau, Maryia Rohava, Alesia Rudnik, Natallia Rabava, Tatsiana Chulitskaya, Katsiaryna Shmatsinaa to 10 years of imprisonment, and Pavel Usau to 11 years of imprisonment.
At the beginning of the trial, 14 defendants in the case of Tsikhanouskaya analysts made a statement.
