{"id":89806,"date":"2024-06-10T13:26:57","date_gmt":"2024-06-10T10:26:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/89806\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"catechist-appealing-three-year-prison-sentence","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/89806\/","title":{"rendered":"Catechist appealing three-year prison sentence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n U\u0142adzis\u0142a\u016d Bie\u0142adzied\n <\/div>\n \n
\n Chry\u015bcijanskaja Vizija<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

June 10, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> On Tuesday, Judge Andrej Jafrema\u016d of the Supreme Court will hear catechist U\u0142adzis\u0142a\u016d Bie\u0142adzied’s appeal behind closed doors, an electronic court schedule says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In mid-March, Bie\u0142adzied was given three years in prison on charges of inciting hatred in connection with politically-sensitive social media posts. He was also charged with distributing pornographic content and insulting Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bie\u0142adzied, a theology graduate, used to teach catechism at the Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Minsk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities filed criminal charges against him after he had served several jail terms for sharing opposition content in 2023. Bie\u0142adzied has serious health issues. Rights groups consider his persecution to be politically motivated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On February 21, as his trial opened at the Minsk City Court, foreign diplomats displayed their solidarity with the prisoner by gathering outside the court building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Law enforcers reportedly filmed a forced confession, in which Bie\u0142adzied admitted to being a homosexual, according to the Chry\u015bcijanskaja Vizija group. The group fears that he may be subjected to abuse in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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