Artsiom Sauchuk
programmer, sentenced to 4 years in prison
Former prisoner
Date of birth: 23 July 1990
Date of detention: 17 August 2020
Charges indicted:
- Part 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code — Participation in riots
Sentence: 4 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony
Date of release: 10 April 2024
Judge: Yuliya Blizniuk
Prosecutor: Alina Kasiyanchyk
Groups: IT specialists
Cases: Protests in Minsk
Artsiom Sauchuk is a programmer living in Poland.
He was charged under Part 1 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code, "organization of riots."
Sauchuk was accused of “grossly violating public order” on August 10, 2020, blocking traffic, joining clashes with police officers, and throwing firecrackers and metal bolts. In particular, he helped push several shopping carts to allegedly block traffic. He said that he did help push the carts, but stressed that he did not consider it a crime.
The political prisoner’s defense lawyer, Siarhei Lebedzeu, stressed that his client’s testimony was confirmed by CCTV footage.
On February 9, 2021, Judge Yuliya Blizniuk of the Frunzienski District Court of Minsk sentenced Artsiom Sauchuk to 4 years in a medium-security penal colony.
