On February 28, the Supreme Court of Belarus considered an appeal in the case of Marfa Rabkova, the coordinator of the "Viasna" volunteer service, and nine other political prisoners convicted in the so-called "Revolutionary Action" case.

Appeals of ten political prisoners were considered.

The court panel headed by judge

Aleksei Rybakov

dismissed the appeals of six defendants, and reduced the terms of spring workers

Marfa Rabkova and Andrey Chapyuk,

as well as activists of the anarchist movement

Akihira Gajeuski-Khanada and Alexander Frantzkevich,

by three months.

The sentence entered into force and the political prisoners are being transferred to the colony.


Taking into account the appeal, the defendant was sentenced:

  • Marfa Rabkova — 14 years and 9 months;

  • Alexander Frantzkevich — 16 years and 9 months;

  • Akihiro Gajeuska-Khanada — 15 years and 9 months;

  • Aleksey Golavko - 12 years old;

  • Paul Shpetna, Nikita Drants, Alexander Kazlienko - 6 years each;

  • Andrei Chapyuk — 5 years and 9 months;

  • Andrey Marach and Danilo Chuly - 5 years each.

In addition, they were awarded huge fines.

Belarusian human rights defenders recognized them as political prisoners.

The USA, the European Union and the OSCE condemned the harsh sentences given to Marfa Rabkova and the other nine political prisoners.