Darya Khmialnitskaya
Prisoner
Date of birth: 16 June 2000
Date of detention: 16 October 2023
Charges indicted:
- Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
- Article 361-3 of the Criminal Code — Participation or preparing to participate in hostilities on foreign soil by a Republic of Belarus citizen
Sentence: 5 1/2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Judge: Alena Ananich
Prison: Penal colony No. 4
Cases: Donations, Protests in Minsk
Groups: Teachers
Darya Khmialnitskaya is charged under two articles: Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (organization of actions that grossly violate public order or participation in them) and Part 2 of Article 361-3 of the Criminal Code (recruitment, education, other training or use of Belarusians to participate in war on the territory of another state, as well as financing or other material support of such activities).
Darya was born in Minsk and attended Belarusian-speaking gymnasium No. 23. Later, she pursued a degree in Oriental Philology at BSU, specializing in Chinese. Her diploma was recognized as one of the best in 2022. She participated in essay writing and translation contests in Belarusian. Darya achieved second place in the 'Mirror of Words' contest in the category of artistic translation from Chinese prose to Belarusian. She has a strong interest in Chinese culture and maintains a blog under the nickname 'Knizhny Tsmok', where she writes fanfics in Belarusian based on famous books, movies, games, and more, as well as sharing details about her life. Her most recent post is from May 13, 2023.
The trial began on April 22, 2024, in the Minsk City Court, and Judge Alena Ananich is presiding over the case. Darya may face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
