Political Prisoner Re-Arrested And Sentenced To 2.5 Years In Colony For 'Insulting' Law Enforcer

• 13.09.2023, 10:08

Judge Hennadz Kudlasevich made the decision.

On 25 August 2023, the Ivanovo District Court sentenced Viktar Melekhau under Art. 369 ("Insulting a representative of power"), Part 1 of Article 328 of the Criminal Code. Judge Hennadz Kudlasevich sentenced Viktar to two years and six months' imprisonment in a common security colony and a fine of 300 basic units (11,100 rubles), reports Viasna.

On 21 April 2023, Uladzimir had already been tried on the same articles in the Centralny district court of Minsk. He was then sentenced to four years' deprivation of liberty with transfer to an open-type correctional institution ("chemistry") and a fine of 200 basic units (Br7,400). Uladzimir managed to serve part of his sentence.

According to the court's verdict, Uladzimir spent more time in "Chemistry" in order to increase the severity of his punishment. He has been in custody since 10 July 2023.

Uladzimir was accused of making an insulting comment "scum" on 5 July 2021 on the Telegram channel "Belarus' Punishers" against police major S. of the Ivanava district executive committee. In 2020, the policeman was engaged in "protection of public order", involved in the consideration of administrative cases brought en masse against Belarusians for participation in protests.