The case was considered by judge Zhanna Pushkina, reports the human rights center "Viasna" with reference to the information posted on the website of the Supreme Court.

On December 14, political prisoner blogger Syarhei Tikhonovsky was sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment in a high-security prison.

This is the maximum punishment received by Lukashenka's opponent during the 28 years of his rule.

Judge

Mikalai Dolya

accused Tsikhanovskyi under Part 1 of Art.

293 (organization of mass riots), Part 3 of Art.

130 (inciting social enmity), Part 2, Art.

191 (obstacles to the work of the CEC), Part 1, Art.

342 of the Criminal Code (organization of actions that grossly violate public order).

At the beginning of July, it became known that the political prisoner was transferred to Mogilev PC No. 15.

Detention of Tsikhanovsky and his supporters.

What you need to know

  • Siarhei Tsikhanovsky is a video blogger, the author of the YouTube channel "Country for Life".

    He was going to run for president in the 2020 elections, but his initiative group was denied registration while he was in prison.

    But they registered the group of his wife Svetlana Tsikhanovskaya, the blogger became the head of this group.

  • In Hrodna at 8:00 p.m. on May 29, Syarhei Tikhonovskyi was detained by police officers during a pre-election picket for the nomination of his wife as president.

    The circumstances of the detention resembled those that Lukashenka had previously spoken about.

  • It happened after an unknown woman, whom witnesses called a provocateur, rushed at the blogger and tried to hold his clothes.

    She demanded that Tsikhanovsky answer why his wife is not in Hrodna.

    Tsikhanovsky tried to get away from the woman - the police appeared.

  • Literally half a minute later, riot police officers came running and detained Syarhei Tsikhanovsky, who was a few meters away from the epicenter.

    Later, a number of associates of Tsikhanouski were also detained.

    The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported a criminal case for "violence against policemen".

  • They allegedly found 900,000 dollars at Tsikhanovsky's summer house.

    The wife thinks the money could have been stolen.

  • Tsikhanovskyi has been behind bars since May 29, 2020.

    He is charged under four articles of the Criminal Code:

Part 1, Art.

293 (organization of mass riots, up to 15 years of imprisonment).

Part 3 of Art.

130 (inciting social enmity);

Part 2 of Art.

191 (obstructing the work of the CEC).

The application for it was submitted by the head of the CEC Lidia Yarmoshyna;

Part 1, Art.

342 (organization of actions that grossly violate public order).

  • Belarusian human rights defenders recognized Tsikhanovsky as a political prisoner.

  • The OSCE PA and the European Parliament demanded the release of Tsikhanouski, Statkevich and their associates.