Dissident athletes’ association slams guilty verdict against prominent goalkeeper

December 29, BPN. The Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation (BSSF) issued a statement condemning what it calls unjust sentence given to prominent goalkeeper Vasil Chamutoŭski.

All officials “involved in the crimes and reprisals will be brought to justice,” it stressed.

On December 29, a court in Minsk has sentenced former national soccer team goalkeeper Vasil Chamutoŭski to two years of restricted freedom in home confinement.

Authorities accused him of participating in post-election protests. Police arrested the famous footballer on September 30 for a repost from an opposition Telegram channel.

Chamutoŭski has been coaching goalkeepers at Ukraine’s FC Lviv since January 2022. He came to Minsk for surgery and intended to return to Lviv in October.

After the disputed 2020 presidential election, the ex-goalkeeper, who had played for Belarusian, Romanian, German and Austrian clubs and had been capped for the national team, joined athletes’ movement for change. He later expressed support for Ukraine, which is fighting against Russian military aggression.

On December 26, the Minsk City Court found the BSSF founders Alaksandra Hierasimenia and Alaksandr Apiejkin guilty of calling for sanctions to be imposed on Belarus. It sentenced both to 12 years in prison without the defendants being present at the trial.

Investigators said the material damage from BSSF’s activities exceeded 800,000 rubels (over $300,000 at the current exchange rate).

In April, the Committee for State Security (KGB) blacklisted the BSSF as an extremist group.