112 people convicted in absentia in Belarus, three of them twice
The procedure of "special proceedings" was introduced in 2022 by the Lukashenka regime as a repressive tool against its opponents. As of November 21, 2024, 112 people have already been convicted in absentia in Belarus. Almost all cases are politically motivated. These are activists, journalists, protesters, politicians, and public figures. Of these, three people were convicted in absentia twice. Viasna reports the cases of these three people.
- Aliaksandr Dabraovolski, Aliaksandr Azarau, and Vadzim Prakopyeu. Collage: spring96.org
Aliaksandr Dabravolski — 11 years and six months in a penal colony and a fine of 240 thousand rubles
- Aliaksandr Dabravolski
Aliaksandr Dabravolski, a politician and senior adviser to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was a participant in the Tsikhanouskaya's Analysts case and in the case on an attempt to disrupt the referendum. In total, he was sentenced to 11 years and six months in a penal colony.
The first criminal case against Aliaksandr was initiated on December 27, 2023. Also, Pavel Marynich, Pavel Liber, Alena Zhyvahlod were tried in this case. On March 18, 2024, all four were found guilty in the Zavadskoj District Court of Minsk under Part 2 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code (obstruction of the work of the Central Election Commission, as well as referendum commissions, committed with the use of threats and in another way, by a group of persons by prior agreement) and each was sentenced to imprisonment for four years in a penal colony with conditions of general security. The case was handled by Judge Dzmitry Lukashevich.
On January 24, 2024, the Investigative Committee initiated special proceedings against 20 "Tsikhanouskaya's analysts". According to the prosecution's version, "these persons took an active part in the development and implementation of destructive activities aimed at harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus, as well as contributed to the incitement of social hatred and hostility in society." Thus, Aliaksandr was tried under Part 6 of Article 16 and Part 3 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code, Part 1 of Article 357 of the Criminal Code, Part 6 of Article 16 and Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code, Part 1 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code, Part 3 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code.
On July 1, 2024, Aliaksandr was convicted for the second time. He was sentenced to 11 years and six months of imprisonment with a fine of 240 thousand rubles (more than 70,600 euros). The case was handled by Judge Uladzimir Areshka. In addition, he was stripped of the military rank.
According to the verdict, Dabravolski's apartment in Minsk and his laptop remain confiscated in order to enforce his fine.
On October 25, 2024, Dabravolski was included in the list of Belarusian citizens, foreign citizens, and stateless persons involved in extremist activities.
Aliaksandr Azarau — 25 years in a penal colony and a fine of 400 thousand rubles
Former employee of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (GUBOPiK) Aliaksandr Azarau was convicted in the BYPOL case and in the Mačuliščy Attack case. Thus, on February 15, 2024, the Minsk City Court convicted in absentia the founders and ex-participants of the organization of former security forces BYPOL Aliaksandr Azarau, Matvei Kupreichyk, Ihar Loban, Andrei Astapovich, Uladzimir Zhyhar, and Aleh Tarelchyk. Judge Dzina Kuchuk sentenced the defendants in the case under 13 criminal articles from 11 to 25 years of imprisonment and a fine totaling more than 350,000 euros. Aliaksandr Azarau was accused of "treason against the state" (Article 356 of the Criminal Code).
The BYPOL initiative was created in October 2020 by former security forces who oppose repression and violence and disagree with Lukashenka's policies. In November 2021, BYPOL was recognized as an "extremist formation", and at the end of August 2022, the Supreme Court of Belarus recognized the organization as a "terrorist organization".
On March 7, 2024, Azarau was included in the list of Belarusian citizens, foreign citizens, and stateless persons involved in extremist activities.
On October 4, 2024, in the Mačuliščy case, Aliaksandr Azarau was sentenced to 25 years in a medium security penal colony and a fine of 400 thousand rubles (more than 117,300 euros) under Part 3 of Article 130 (incitement of other social hatred), Article 188 (slander), Part 4 of Article 16 and Part 3 of Article 289 (act of terrorism), Part 4 of Article 16, Article 18 and Parts 2, 4 of Article 309 (intentionally damaging a vehicle or communication lines), Part 1 of Article 356 (treason to the state), Part 1 of Article 357 (conspiracy or other actions committed with the aim of seizing state power), Part 3 of Article 361 (calls for restrictive measures (sanctions), other actions against national security), Parts 1, 2 of Articles 361-1 (creation of an extremist formation or participation in it), Part 2 of Article 368 (insulting Lukashenka), Article 369 (insulting a representative of the government) of the Criminal Code.
Vadzim Prakopyeu — 25 years in a penal colony and a fine of 37 thousand rubles
- Vadzim Prakopyeu
Businessman, founder, and deputy commander of the Pahonia Regiment Vadzim Prakopyeu was tried in the Haidukevich case and for "participating in the war in Ukraine."
In June 2023, Vadzim Prakopyeu was already sentenced in absentia to 25 years in a penal colony, fined more than 10,800 euros, and stripped of all military ranks. There were 18 defendants in the case, of which 15 people are behind bars, and three were convicted in absentia. The trial lasted four and a half months. Judge Siarhei Khrypach. According to the prosecution, Prakopyeu was a member of an "organized criminal group" operating in Belarus, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine, and other countries from July 14, 2020 to January 6, 2022 to commit "an unspecified number of extremist crimes."
On December 26, 2023, the Brest Regional Court convicted Vadzim Prakopyeu in absentia for the second time. This time, to 25 years in a penal colony and a fine of 37 thousand rubles (more than 10,800 euros) with deprivation of the right to be a representative of the government for five years. He was accused under articles on "inciting other social hatred" (Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code), "participation in an armed formation on the territory of another state" (Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code), "slander against Lukashenka" (Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code), "insulting Lukashenka and a representative of the authorities" (Part 1 and 2 of Article 368, Article 369 of the Criminal Code). Judge Sviatlana Kramianiouskaya heard the case.
Vadzim Prakopyeu was included in the list of "extremists" and "terrorists".
