News on the topic: defamation
02.03.2021 Five new political prisoners in Belarus
Joint statement by representatives of the Belarusian human rights community
10.02.2021 Seven convicts in defamation and flag desecration trials called political prisoners
Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community
22.01.2021 Political prisoner Dzmitry Kulakouski sentenced to 2 years of restricted freedom on defamation charges
Judge Tatsiana Pirozhnikava of the Maskoŭski District Court of Minsk sentenced today political prisoner Dzmitry Kulakouski to two years’ imprisonment in an open-type penal facility (so-called “khimiya”). He was found guilty of “publicly insulting an official in connection with the performance of his official duties” (Article 369 of the Criminal Code). Kulakouski was released from custody immediately after the verdict was announced, but will remain under travel restrictions pending appeal hearings.
28.12.2020 Immediately release political prisoners Siarhei Hardziyevich and Dzmitry Kulakouski
Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community
23.12.2020 Statement on sentencing of political prisoners Aliaksei Ramanau and Mikalai Charniauski
Belarusian human rights defenders call to decriminalize defamation, put an end to judicial harassment and release all political prisoners convicted of slandering or insulting officials or the president, as well as insulting state symbols
16.12.2020 One more defamation sentence: Man with cancer gets one year in prison for “insulting” Lukashenka
The Chojniki District Court sentenced today a disabled resident of Homieĺ to 12 months in a penal colony for “publicly insulting the president” at an election rally on July 28.
15.12.2020 Two more persons convicted for "insulting" police officers
Yury Karnilovich, a 31-year-old welder at the MAZ automotive manufacturer, was sentenced today to three years in an open-type penal colony (so called “khimiya”) for allegedly insulting former Interior Minister Yury Karayeu in a comment on YouTube. The sentence is the heaviest possible penalty provided by the charge.
26.11.2020 Student sentenced to 18 months in prison for insulting OMON chief
The Frunzienski District Court of Minsk sentenced today Illia Tananka, a 19-year-old student at Minsk State Linguistic University, to 18 months of imprisonment for allegedly publicly insulting Dzmitry Balaba, commanding officer of OMON, a special police unit known for its involvement in acts of violence against peaceful protesters.
03.03.2020 YouTube vlogger charged with assault of police officer over abusive comment
Volha Zhurauskaya, a Viciebsk-based blogger running a YouTube channel called “Shooting is Allowed”, has been charged with assault of an official (Art. 369 of the Criminal Code).
14.08.2019 Dzmitry Paliyenka case brought to trial
The case of former political prisoner and Amnesty International’s prisoner of conscience Dzmitry Paliyenka has been submitted to the Minsk City Court. The trial will open in early September.
18.04.2019 Critical blogger awarded heavy fine in police defamation trial
Blogger Siarhei Piatrukhin has been found guilty of slander and insult in a trial that was completed today in Brest.
09.04.2019 Belsat TV office raided by police
Police officers have searched the Minsk-based office of the TV channel Belsat, Belarusian Association of Journalists said.
02.04.2019 Immediately stop prosecution of blogger Siarhei Piatrukhin
Joint statement by human rights and other civil society organizations
06.04.2017 Aliaksandr Lapitski released from mental hospital
Aliaksandr Lapitski has been released from psychiatric hospital after spending more than five months by order of the Frunzienski District Court of Minsk, which found him guilty of several defamation offenses in April 2016.
15.11.2016 Viasna demands to release Aliaksandr Lapitski from psychiatric hospital and to decriminalize defamation offenses
On November 14, it became known that Aliaksandr Lapitski, 80, was forcibly sent to a psychiatric hospital, after a court decision in the criminal case against him had entered into force.
