{"id":100275,"date":"2024-08-13T12:26:04","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T09:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/100275\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"reprisals-man-sentenced-to-20-years-in-absentia-on-charges-of-treason-terrorism","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/100275\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: man sentenced to 20 years in absentia on charges of treason, terrorism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

August 13, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> The Minsk City Court has sentenced 24-year-old Valeryj Vodzin to 20 years in a medium-security colony, without the defendant being present. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigators accused Vodzin of high treason, terrorism, illegal handling of weapons, establishing an extremist group, ammunition smuggling and participation in an armed formation or conflict abroad, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The judge also fined Vodzin 24,000 rubels (over $7,300). He was tried with four others: Andrej Hryhorje\u016d, 30-year-old Viktoryja Vo\u0142\u010dak, 25-year-old Hanna Sava\u010dkina and her mother Ta\u0107ciana Rusak. Their sentences are unknown. All five were tried for allegedly preparing a terrorist attack on Victory Day, May 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Judge Ta\u0107ciana Hrypa\u010d of the Navapo\u0142ack City Court sentenced D\u017amitryuj \u0160a\u0142ak, drummer at the Paranoia Dolls band and employee at the Naftan oil refinery, to 3.5 years in prison on charges of insulting the head of state and an official. She also fined \u0160a\u0142ak 8,000 rubels, Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judge Rus\u0142an Sia\u0144ko of the Brest Regional Court sentenced 63-year-old Natalla Malec to 3.5 years behind bars for donations to political prisoners, Viasna reported. Investigators charged her with facilitating extremism. Previously, human rights defenders said her persecution was politically motivated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December 2022, Malec was sentenced to 1.5 years of restricted freedom, a type of home confinement, for allegedly insulting an official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mediazona<\/em> reported the arrest of a man who came on vacation to visit his relatives in Belarus. Police released a video of him saying that he is in custody for post-election protests and “negative comments” about authorities. He also said that he lives and works in Poland. It is unclear what charges he is facing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight employees of a Smarho\u0144 company were arrested for allegedly reposting “extremist” information, a minor offense. The verdicts are unknown, Smarho\u0144.Naviny<\/em> and Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officers arrested a woman for alleged negative comments about riot police, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and Russian military, Mediazona<\/em> and a pro-government source reported. Police released a video of the handcuffed suspect saying she had called for causing serious bodily harm to Russian soldiers and Belarusian riot police officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar Apolka, director of the Materik chain of hardware stores, was arrested in connection with the 2020 postelection protests, according to a pro-government source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anarchist Siarhiej Ramana\u016d, sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony, was ordered to spend five months at the facility’s internal prison, Pravo na Vosstaniye reported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December 2021, Ramana\u016d was prosecuted together with Ihar Alinievi\u010d and two other anarchists. Officials accused him of terrorism and illegal arms trafficking. In March 2023, the Va\u016dkavysk District Court sentenced Romana\u016d to additional 11 months behind bars for alleged disobedience to the colony administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Propagandist Juryj Vaskrasienski is prompting political prisoners to file petitions for pardon, Viasna reported. In addition, officials try to persuade political prisoners to petition \u0141uka\u0161enka for pardon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of August 13, human rights defenders identified at least 1,384 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Opposition sources estimate the number of political prisoners at around 5,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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