Protestant community worship leader gets restricted freedom sentence over protests

November 9, BPN. A court in Minsk has sentenced Maksim Stasilevič, a prominent member of the evangelical community, to two and a half years of restricted freedom without referral to an open type correctional facility, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

This type of sentence implies that people are confined to their residence during non-working hours and are required to retain or seek employment. Police can visit their home or place of employment anytime to make sure they comply with the terms of confinement.

Judge Taćciana Pirožnikava found him guilty of participation in antigovernment protests.

Police arrested Stasilevič together with his brother-in-law Jaŭhien Barysik in July. Both served 10-day jail terms: Stasilevič, for sharing with his friends a news post from a Telegram channel deemed extremist, and Barysik, for disorderly conduct and swearing at the police department. Barysik was released after serving his term, while Stasilevič was charged with taking part in protests.

Human rights defenders declared him a political prisoner.