Convicted former students, lecturer free after serving their terms

November 30, BPN. Authorities have released ten former students convicted in connection with post-election protests after they had served their sentences in full, Belsat TV reported.

Those freed include former students Ksenija Syramałot, Jagor Kaniecki, Illa Trachtenberh, Kaciaryna Budźko, Jana Arabiejka, Viktoryja Hrankoŭskaja, Anastasija Bulybienka, Maryja Kalenik, lecturer Volha Filatčankava, and Alana Hebremaryjam, a member of the Coordinating Council for Political Crisis Settlement.

Taćciana Jekielčyk, another defendant in the students’ case, is still serving her prison term because she had been arrested later than others. She is to be released on December 15.

Authorities arrested the students and the lecturer in November 2020 and charged them with participating in protests.

Eleven pleaded not guilty in court and were given sentences of two and a half years in prison. Hleb Ficner, the only one who pleaded guilty, was released on May 31 after serving two years in prison.