‘Terrorist’ Viachaslau Maleichuk sentenced to 22 years in jail

On May 30, Minsk regional court pronounced the verdict against a 37-year-old Viachaslau Maleichuk who was accused of preparing acts of terrorism in Barysaŭ and Minsk on March 25, 2021. A panel of judges chaired by Judge Uladzimir Areshka sentenced him to 22 years in high-security penal colony. This was the punishment requested by the representative of the Prosecutor General's Office. The trial lasted three weeks behind closed doors.

The man was charged under a number of articles of the Criminal Code:

• Part 1 of Article 14 and Part 1 of Article 289, Part 1 of Article 13 and Part 3 of Article 289 (preparation and attempt to commit an act of terrorism),
• Part 3 and Part 4 of Article 295 (illegal actions in relation to explosives),
• part 1 of Article 295-3 (illegal actions in relation to objects based on the use of combustible substances). 

Viachaslau Maleichuk. Screenshot from the police footage

On March 26, 2021, the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that it had prevented the terrorist attacks in Minsk and in the military unit in Piečy. A video was shown of Maleichuk saying he received an order from someone at BYPOL, an initiative of the incumbent and former security officers who oppose the government. It follows from Viachaslau's words in the video that he had an accomplice Yauhen, but Maleichuk was tried alone. Viachaslau has been in custody since the day of his arrest.

In the video shot after Maleichuk's detention, he tells on camera that the purpose of the ‘terrorist attack’ was ‘the expression of his civic position’. His relatives noted that he is using uncharacteristic dry protocol words and expressions: ‘to execute an explosion’, ‘product’, ‘vehicle’, ‘stopping point’.And when the operative asks him about the purpose, Maleichuk hesitantly replies: “Well, probably destabilization...” In the investigative experiment, Maleychuk is again asked questions, and again he often uses conventional wording when answering.

It is known that the KGB investigation department investigated the criminal case against Maleichuk. The case was initiated by the Prosecutor General's Office. Not only Maleichuk but also the participants of the BYPOL initiative are involved in the case.

“It has been established that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Pavel Latushka, and 15 Belarusian citizens abroad are involved in the illegal activities of the unregistered organization.

As defendants in a criminal case under Part 4 of Article  16 and Part 3 of Article  289 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (an act of terrorism committed by an organized group) involved 18 people. The suspects are listed in the international wanted list,” the KGB representative said on April 2 last year.

After his detention, the KGB put Viachaslau and the other persons involved in the case on the list of persons involved in terrorist activities.