Former serviceman Pavel Kuchynski was sentenced to 19 years of imprisonment

On December 15, in the Minsk Regional Court, former serviceman Pavel Kuchynski was sentenced to 19 years in a medium security penal colony. The trial was conducted by judge Aliaksandr Rybakou. Pavel was found guilty under seven criminal articles: "treason to the state", "act of terrorism", "creation of an organization for carrying out terrorist activities or participation in it" among others. Last year, the association of security forces of Belarus, BYPOL, wrote that he was tortured into participating in a provocation against them.

Pavel Kuchynski was detained around the beginning of September 2022. At that time, the organization BYPOL wrote that Kuchynski was detained in connection with his probable involvement in the case of cash-in-transit guards:

"The special services tortured him into participating in a provocation where the latter contacted representatives of BYPOL and offered to carry out direct action. All negotiations and correspondence were recorded."

Pavel was charged under seven articles of the Criminal Code:

• Part 1 of Article 356 — "high treason";

• Part 2 of Article 295-3 — "illegal actions in relation to objects whose action is based on the use of combustible substances";

• Part 2 of Article 290-5 — "organization of the activities of a terrorist organization and participation in the activities of such an organization";

• Part 4 of Article 295 — "unlawful acts against firearms, ammunition, and explosives committed by an organized group";

• Part 2 of Article 290-4 — "creation of an organization for carrying out terrorist activities or participation in it";

• Part 3 of Article 289 — "an act of terrorism committed by an organized group"

• Part 1 of Article 309 — "deliberately rendering railway transport facilities unusable".

His trial began on October 4 in the Minsk Regional Court. Aliaksandr Rybakou, the former chairman of the Lahojsk District Court, was appointed judge in the case. It was he who presided over the first trial in the Tsikhanouski case in 2021. 

On December 15, Kuchynski was sentenced to 19 years in a medium security penal colony.

If you know the details of this case or information about Pavel, please write to the Telegram account @Viasnainfo.