Verdict in Andrei Bialiauski’s case: 1 year of home detention
Andrei Bialiauski outside the courthouse in Minsk. 11 January 2018
The court of Leninski district of Minsk has sentenced Andrei Bialiauski, former defendant in the ‘White Legion case’, to 1 year of conditional restraint of liberty (home detention) on charges of possessing an AK-47 cartridge.
Judge Maryna Zapasnik found him guilty under Part 2, Art. 295 of the Criminal Code (‘Illegal manufacture, acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of firearms, ammunition and explosives’).
At yesterday's court session, the punishment was requested by the public prosecutor, Aliaksei Kisliak.
Bialiauski fully admitted his guilt in possession of ammunition.
However, he intends to appeal the verdict to the Minsk City Court.
Andrei Bialiauski was arrested on 21 March 2017 and charged under Part 3, Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (‘training and preparation for participation in riots’) and Art. 287 of the Criminal Code (‘creation of an illegal armed group’). He was released from the KGB jail on bail on June 2, after the latter charge was dropped. During the search, a rifle cartridge was found at his apartment.
This fact was used by the Investigative Committee to indict Bialiauski on December 12 under Part 2, Art. 295.
Home detention provides for several restrictions on the convict’s freedoms, including a ban on leaving the residence for more than two hours a day, drinking alcohol, and visiting other people’s apartments. Any violation of these rules may result in disciplinary penalties, and if the offenses are systemic, the person may face criminal charges (Article 415 of the Criminal Code) and be sent to serve a sentence in prison.
