Artsiom Zadrutski
sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment
Former prisoner
Date of birth: 18 December 1985
Date of detention: 29 September 2021
Charges indicted:
- Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
- Art. 369 of the Criminal Code — Insulting a government official
- Art. 130 of the Criminal Code — Incitement to hatred
Sentence: 3 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Prison sentence start date: 28 March 2023
Date of release: 30 December 2023
Judge: Vera Halaukova
Groups: Cultural workers
Notes: Health issues
Cases: The Zeltser case
Artsiom Zadrutski was detained in Brest for publishing comments on the Internet concerning the deaths of the IT worker Andrei Zeltser and the KGB agent Dzmitry Fedasiuk. It is known that Zadrutski was undergoing criminal proceedings under Article 369 ('Contempt of a public official'), Article 130 ('Inciting social enmity'), and Article 342 ('Organization and preparation or active participation in actions grossly disrupting public order) of the Criminal Code.
Before his arrest, Zadrutski worked as a sound engineer. In prison, he developed an ear infection. Due to the untimely treatment, he lost hearing in one ear.
Artsiom Zadrutski writes poems and draws.
In late December 2022, the political prisoner was transferred from remand prison #8 in Žodzina (Minsk region) to remand prison No. 1 in Minsk.
As reported by human rights defenders, his case was tried. Judge Vera Halaukova found Artsiom Zadrutski guilty and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony. Besides, he is to pay 100 fine units (approx. $ 1,280) of compensation for moral damage.
In late March 2023, the political prisoner was transferred to penal colony No. 1 in Navapolack.
On December 30, 2023, he was released from prison.
