Babrujsk’s “railway partisans” get long prison sentences

February 11, BPN. A court has sentenced residents of Babrujsk, Mahiloŭ region, Dźmitryj Klimaŭ (28) and Uładzimir Aŭramcaŭ (27) to  22 years in prison. Jaŭhien Minkievič (28) has been given 18 months in prison. They were convicted in connection with the destruction of two relay cabinets on the railroad, the Mogilevskiye Vedomosti newspaper reported on February 10.

Later, that report was confirmed by the Prosecutor General’s Office. The defendants were found guilty of terrorism, high treason and other crimes.

The closed-door trial of the “railway partisans” began in the Mahiloŭ District Court on January 23. Law enforcers had arrested the three men in March 2022, wounding Klimaŭ. “The men showed active resistance and tried to escape,” police said.

Another group of “railway partisans,” Siarhiej Plaškun (35) and Juryj Sielvič (45) from Mazyr, were sentenced to 16 and 14 years’ imprisonment respectively by the Homiel Regional Court, media reported on February 8.

Sabotage on Belarusian railways began shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine from Belarusian territory in February 2022. Rail partisans were damaging relay cabinets automating the movement of trains. Some were brutally arrested and have received long prison sentences.