Anton Valavik
sentenced to 3 years in prison
Date of birth: 8 March
Date of detention: 21 July 2020
Charges indicted:
Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
Art. 364 of the Criminal Code — Violence or threat of violence against an employee of the internal affairs bodies
Sentence: 3 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Date of release: 4 March 2023
Judge: Volha Niaborskaya
Prosecutor: Artsiom Yautukhovich
Anton Valavik was detained at home on July 21 as part of a criminal investigation opened after the events of July 14 in Minsk. In the evening of July 14, spontaneous protests were held across Belarus after the CEC refused to register presidential candidates Viktar Babaryka and Valery Tsapkala. About 300 people were detained in Minsk alone. Many of them were later fined or sentenced to short tersm of detention under Articles 23.34 and 23.4 of the Administrative Code. Over a dozen faced criminal charges, including Anton Valavik.
Valavik was accused of taking part in an unauthorized mass event and "intending to protest publicly and commit destructive activities." He joined a group of protesters, shouted slogans, and also allegedly kicked two riot police officers: one on the arm, and the other on the head.
Anton Valavik pleaded guilty to Article 342 and pleaded not guilty to Article 364. He said that he saw a crowd of protesters, and on the sidewalk, there was a man lying and screaming in pain. Anton said he decided to help him because it was "wrong to kick a man when he's down."
On February 1, 2021, he was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to three years in a general-security penal colony.
