Mahiloŭ court jails academic for remarks about Łukašenka

May 27, BPN. A court in Mahiloŭ sentenced Juryj Bubnoŭ, a social science doctor, to two years in prison, a source has told BPN.

The scientist pleaded not guilty to the charges of libeling and insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for 29 years.

Since 1997, Bubnoŭ has headed the humanities department at the Belarusian State University of Food and Chemical Technologies’ economics faculty.

Mahiloŭ residents also know him as a co-founder of the Center for Urban Initiatives, focused on urban planning, arts and culture. In 2016, the education ministry honored him with a certificate of excellence.

Law enforcers arrested the Russian-born professor in January at his workplace. Judge Volha Zaryčniuk opened the trial on May 4.