Dzianis Urad
Captain of the Armed Forces’ General Staff, sentenced to 18 years in prison
Political prisoner
Date of birth: 23 June 1991
Date of detention: 15 March 2021
Charges indicted:
- Art. 356 of the Criminal Code — High treason
Sentence: 18 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony
Prosecutor: Mikhail Kavaliou
Prison: Prison No. 4
Notes: Prison security level
Groups: The military
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Godparent: Jens Geier, member of the European Parliament
Dzianis Urad is a former special liaison officer of the Armed Forces’ General Staff.
According to state-owned media, on March 14, Urad photographed a secret letter from the Minister of Internal Affairs to the Minister of Defense, while on duty as a special liaison officer of the Armed Forces’ General Staff. Urad sent a copy of the letter, which authorized the involvement of the Armed Forces in law enforcement activities, to a "Polish Telegram channel".
On May 14, the Supreme Court sentenced Dzianis Urad to 18 years in a medium-security penal colony, finding him guilty of high treason (Part 2 of Article 356 of the Criminal Code). Urad was also deprived of his military rank.
The trial was held behind closed doors. The verdict is final and not subject to appeal.
On September 21, it was announced that Dzianis Urad had been transferred to Mahiliou Prison No. 4.
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