"Sunrise over a swamp": at least 40 people were convicted in Belarus for the red-and-green flag
After the events of 2020, Belarusians have protested against the actions of the authorities in various ways. Some express disagreement with the help of state symbols: they tear down red-and-green flags from buildings and break poles, or leave public comments about the national flag. The authorities classify such actions as "desecrating state symbols." Over the past four years, at least 40 people have been sentenced to a total of 118 years of imprisonment under Article 370 of the Criminal Code.
We report how Belarusians are tried for "desecrating state symbols."
- The image is illustrative
Starting in 2020, at least 40 people were sentenced to 118 years in a penal colony for "desecrating state symbols" (Article 370 of the Criminal Code). This article stipulates punishment by a fine, or correctional labor for up to two years, or arrest, or restriction of liberty for up to three years, or imprisonment for the same period. According to human rights activists, all those convicted of "desecrating state symbols" are sentenced to imprisonment in a penal colony.
A large part of those who tear down the red-and-green flags are intoxicated people who left a store and tore down the flag at the entrance.
Childhood friends convicted of tearing down the flag
- The trial of Artur Kanapatski and Artur Mouchan
The shortest term that was chosen as a punishment under this article was six months in a penal colony. Thus, childhood friends and political prisoners Artur Kanapatski and Artur Mouchan were detained in July 2024 for tearing down a red-and-green flag from a store building in 2021 in Dziatlavičy.
In the Luninec District Court on October 31, 2024, both were sentenced under Article 370 of the Criminal Code to six months in a general security penal colony.
In Mahilioŭ, in the winter of 2024, political prisoner Dzmitry Puzikau, drunk, tore down the red-and-green flag from a store building and broke the pole.
A few months later, Dzmitry was sentenced in the Kastryčnicki District Court of Mahilioŭ under Article 370 of the Criminal Code to six months in a general security penal colony. The appeal was not satisfied, and Dzmitry himself was sent for compulsory treatment for alcoholism.
"I took the flag as a souvenir"
- Judge Viktoryia Pakunova, who sentenced Vadzim Barysau and Aleh Volk
In the autumn of 2023, in the Baranavičy Court, the criminal cases of political prisoners Aleh Volk and Vadzim Barysau were heard. The trial took place in a visiting session in the building of Baranavičy pre-trial detention center No. 6.
The details of the trial were reported on state television.
in September 2023, one of the men, drunk in the village of Novaja Myš, tore down the flag from a store building. He put the flag in his backpack and took it home. Police officers came to him the following day.
Another political prisoner tore down the flag on the night of July 22, 2023, damaging the fastening. And then he took the flag to Moscow. As the man said at his trial, he took the flag as a souvenir.
In October 2023, Judge Viktoryia Pakunova sentenced both men under Article 370 of the Criminal Code to one year in a general security penal colony each.
He raised his head, looked at the flag, and pulled it
Political prisoner Dzmitry Herasimovich was sentenced in December 2022 under Article 370 of the Criminal Code to two years of imprisonment in the conditions of general security.
Dzmitry, intoxicated, pulled the red-and-green flag and threw it to the ground. At his trial, the man said that he did not intend to tear down the flag, but held on to it so as not to fall.
An administrator of a karaoke bar, who was nearby, saw the incident and reported Dzmitry. The informer indicated that Dzmitry raised his head, looked at the national flag, and pulled it. His testimony is also confirmed by CCTV footage.
In addition to imprisonment, Dzmitry was sent for compulsory treatment for alcoholism.
Two young girls, intoxicated, set fire to the national flag
- Darya Zayats and Valeryia Drahun on trial
In April 2024, 23-year-old political prisoners Darya Zayats and Valeryia Drahun wrapped paper on a mop handle, lit it, and then set fire to the red-and-green flag.
In June of the same year, at a visiting session, women were sentenced under Article 370 of the Criminal Code to one year in a general security penal colony each.
"Sunrise over a swamp": a man left a comment about the national flag
Political prisoner Pavel Dubau, while working in Western Europe, left an online comment about the national flag in a corporate community. He wrote that "our flag is white-red-white," and called the existing one "a sunrise over a swamp." After that, the man returned to Belarus.
In the Astraviec District Court in March 2023, Pavel was sentenced under Article 370 of the Criminal Code to one year and six months in a general security penal colony.
A man took down the official flag and hung up the flag of Ukraine
In October 2023, Valer Samsonenka, a 41-year-old political prisoner living in the village of Sasnovy Bor, took down the red-and-green flag in the center of the village and threw it into the trash. Instead, Valer hung out the yellow and blue flag of Ukraine. This was filmed by a surveillance camera.
In January 2024, in the Svietlahorsk District Court, Valer was sentenced under Article 370 of the Criminal Code to one year of imprisonment in a general security penal colony.
