Aliaksandr Baravik
sentenced to 1 year of imprisonment
Date of birth: 30 December 1981
Date of detention: 15 May 2023
Charges indicted:
Art. 369 of the Criminal Code — Insulting a government official
Sentence: 1 year
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Judge: Dzmitryi Kedal
Prison: Prison No. 1
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Aliaksandr Baravik works as a woodworking machine operator. He has a minor child.
On May 15, 2023, the Kastryčnicki District Court of Hrodna convicted him under Article 369 of the Criminal Code ('Contempt of a public official'). Judge Dzmitryi Kedal sentenced Aliaksandr Baravik to 12 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and 50 basic fines (1,850 Belarusian rubles or approx. $583 as of August 8, 2023).
According to the court, Baravik posted an insulting comment on Telegram against Interior Minister Ivan Kurbakou and his son, the head of the criminal police Uladzimir Kurbakou.
Aliaksandr Baravik fully admitted his guilt and repented. Pending trial, he was under a personal guarantee. After the verdict was announced, he was taken into custody in the courtroom.
On June 23, 2023, Aliaksandr Baravik was included in the 'List of Belarusian citizens, foreign citizens, and stateless persons involved in extremist activities'.
