Aleh Katsapau
Prisoner
Date of birth: 10 April 1969
Date of detention: 21 March 2023
Charges indicted:
- Art. 368 of the Criminal Code — Insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus
- Art. 130 of the Criminal Code — Incitement to hatred
- Art. 361-4 of the Criminal Code — Promoting extremist activities
Sentence: 2 1/2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Judge: Siarhei Salouski
Prison: Penal colony No. 11
Groups: Activists, Cultural workers
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Aleh Katsapau was engaged in public and cultural activities. For some time he headed the cultural organization "Talaka" in Homieĺ, as a writer he published many articles in magazines and newspapers.
He was found guilty of inciting other social hatred (Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code) and insulting Aliaksandr Lukashenka (Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code). The sentence is unknown. His case was considered by Judge Siarhei Salouski from November 2023 to January 2024.
It is known that on March 21, 2023, Katsapau was arrested in an administrative case and charged with production, distribution or storage of extremist materials under Article 19.11 of the CAO.