Franak Viachorka was sentenced in absentia to 20 years of imprisonment
The trial in absentia against the chief adviser to the democratic leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Franak Viachorka, began on May 31 in the Minsk City Court. The verdict was handed down by judge Valiantsina Ziankevich, known for passing politically motivated sentences, in particular, in 2023 in the Tut.by case.
Viachorka was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment in a medium security penal colony, as well as a fine of 60 thousand rubles (more than 17,1 thousand euros).
The 35-year-old politician was charged under nine articles of the Criminal Code: Part 3 of Article 130 (inciting other social hatred and hostility), Part 1 of Article 293 (organizing mass riots accompanied by violence against a person, pogroms, arson, destruction of property or armed resistance to government representatives), Part 1 of Article 342 (organizing and preparing actions, grossly violating public order, or active participation in them), Part 1 of Article 356 (treason to the state), Part 1 of Article 357 (conspiracy or other actions committed to seize state power), Part 3 of Article 361 (calls for restrictive measures (sanctions), other actions aimed at causing harm national security of Belarus), Parts 1 and 2 of Articles 361-1 (creation of an extremist formation or participation in it, including repeated one), Part 2 of Article 367 (slander against Lukashenka), Article 369-1 (discrediting the Republic of Belarus).
In addition, he was sued "in the interests of the state" for compensation for property damage in the amount of more than 30.9 million rubles (more than 8.8 million euros), "caused by illegal actions."
