Opposition leader’s husband accused of disobedience to prison administration

January 16, BPN. Investigators have accused jailed video blogger Siarhiej Cichanoŭski, the husband of Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, of defying the prison administration’s orders.

The Investigative Committee’s press office reported that Cichanoŭski “repeatedly disobeyed” the administration of Žodzina’s Prison No 8, “did not respond to administration officers’ legitimate demands, was rude, and provoked inmates to conflict.” The former presidential hopeful was “repeatedly reprimanded” for “systematic violation of the internal regulations,” it said.

In December 2021, Cichanoŭski was sentenced to 18 years in a high-security colony. In August 2022, a court in Mahiloŭ ruled to transfer him to the prison for the next three years.

The defendants in the Cichanoŭski case were accused of multiple crimes, such as organizing mass riots, inciting social hatred and discord and obstructing the work of the central election commission.

In June 2022, the Committee for State Security (KGB) added Cichanoŭski to the list of persons involved in “terrorist activities.”

Human rights defenders say his persecution is politically motivated.