Zhodzina resident fined for attack on human rights defender

On 22 August, Zhodzina town court fined local resident Mr. Yakautsou BYR 350,000 on charges of attacking human rights defender Aliaksei Lapitsi with a knife back on 29 July.

Mr. Yakautsou was found guilty of committing an offence under Art. 9.1 of the Administrative Code (“malicious injury”) and received the mildest sentence possible.

Meanwhile, the court ignored a number of aggravating circumstances, e.g. the attacker’s aggression, alcoholic intoxication and repeated perjury in the courtroom.