Aleh Dabrydniou
sentenced to 3 1/2 years of imprisonment
Date of birth: 9 November 2005
Date of detention: 8 November 2022
Charges indicted:
Art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code — Creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it
Art. 361-4 of the Criminal Code — Promoting extremist activities
Sentence: 3 1/2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony
Judge: Alena Bachyshcha
Aleh Dabrydniou is 17 years old. He is from the Mahilioŭ region. He successfully participated in the local intellectual games competitions among schoolchildren.
Dabrydniou is one of the five members of the closed chat room The Union of the Belarusian National Shield (SBNSH) arrested in early November 2022. The Ministry of Internal Affairs recognized SBNSH as an extremist organization a week earlier. They initiated criminal proceedings against the detainees under the article on 'the creation of an extremist formation'.
The case was heard from June 29 to July 7, 2023, in the Minsk Regional Court. Judge Alena Bachyshcha conducted the trial behind closed doors.
Aleh Dabrydniou was convicted under Part 1 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') and Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361-4 ('Supporting extremist activities') of the Criminal Code and sentenced to three years and six months of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony.
Kiryl Balakhonau (aged 19, Homieĺ region) was also convicted under Part 1 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') and Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361-4 ('Supporting extremist activities') of the Criminal Code. Uladzislau Yafimovich (aged 19, Brest region) was convicted under Part 3 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') and Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361-4 ('Supporting extremist activities') of the Criminal Code. Aliaksandr Rukoits (aged 27, Hrodna region) was convicted under Part 3 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') and Part 1 of Article 130 ('Incitement of other social hatred or enmity') of the Criminal Code.
Besides, on July 5, 2023, in the Minsk Regional Court, Mikita Brui (aged 17) was also convicted under Part 1 of Article 130-1 ('Incitement of other social hatred or enmity') and Parts 1 and 2 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') of the Criminal Code.
Four of the convicts are in custody. The fate of the fifth one is unknown.
