Fifteen years behind bars for running protest chats

November 7, BPN. The Minsk City Court has sentenced businessman Stanisłaŭ Kuźmicki on November 3 to 15 years in prison for participating in protests and administering over 30 chats on the Telegram messaging app, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Authorities also accused him of inciting hatred, creating a terrorist organization, and calling for sanctions.

Police arrested Kuźmicki in December 2021. The Committee for State Security blacklisted him as a “terrorist” in July 2022.