Convicted man with disability fears for his life
March 1, BPN. A district judge in Pinsk, Brest region, sentenced Mikałaj Klimovič to one year in prison on February 28 for allegedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka.
Klimovič has a disability following heart surgery after a stroke in May 2022.
“I hoped and many [people] hoped that the sentence would be limited to [restricted freedom] in home confinement,” Klimovič told BPN, noting that the verdict shocked everyone, given his fragile health.
“Any prison term is death for me because I have to be under constant medical supervision and have to take a lot of strong medications,” he said. “I might not even make it through a month.”
Authorities persecuted Klimovič for a smiley under a face-swap picture showing Łukašenka and Vladimir Putin wearing Nazi uniforms.
Klimovič’s attorney informed the court about his client’s condition, warning that a custodial sentence may be dangerous for him.
Klimovič, known as Mikałaj Vierasień in social media, had been arrested in December 2022 on similar grounds. He felt unwell in custody and was hospitalized. Later Judge Andrei Bačyła fined him 111 rubels (about $40). He plans to appeal his new verdict.
- Economy
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja asks Albania to use UN to help Belarusian political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusians net sellers of foreign currency in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ foreign exchange reserves up 4.6 percent in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition, Pact of Free Cities agree on self-government training for BelarusiansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyOfficials boast expanding cell service coverage in 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, Politics
- EconomyGovernment cuts export duties on selected oil products by 60 percentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: data breach of opposition chat fuels evacuation requestsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- EconomyRussia’s Lada outsells China's Geely in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHuman rights activists designate 16 as former political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLocal officials to approve appointments of CEOs to private companiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsOpposition politician Łatuška meets with Dutch ambassador in WarsawThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCIS states debate AI regulationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy
- EconomyŁukašenka wants district authorities to have more control over private businessesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyUK, Lithuania pull out of double tax treaties with BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics
- PoliticsConvicted Belarusian spy wanted in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: opposition initiative’s data leak linked to two arrests in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- EconomyState Investment Program to fund renovation of four highwaysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityLithuania reports spike in illegal entries from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterview with Constitution expert about Belarus’ failure to establish separation of powersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics, SecurityUkraine, Russia exchange prisoners in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+