Ilona Belavus
sentenced to 2 1/2 years of freedom restriction
Date of birth: 18 October 1996
Date of detention: 9 November 2022
Charges indicted:
Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
Sentence: 2 1/2 years
Penalty: restricted freedom under home confinement ("domashnyaya khimiya")
Judge: Viktoryia Shabunia
Ilona Belavus is the head of the legal department of the Na Sviazi retail network (a large Belarusian retail network selling electronics). According to the pro-government Telegram channels, she took part in the post-election protests. In the 'repentant' video, Belavus denies her participation in the protest Marches and getting on the roadway.
At first, Ilona Belavus was sentenced to administrative arrest under Article 19.11-2 of the Code of Administrative Offences (Distribution and storage of extremist materials). Later she was charged under Article 342 of the Criminal Code ('Active participation in group actions grossly disrupting public order') and placed in remand prison #1 in Minsk.
On February 6, 2023, the Centraĺny District Court of Minsk sentenced the political prisoner to two years and six months of restricted freedom under home confinement. Ilona Belavus was released from custody in the courtroom.
On March 3, 2023, she was included in the "List of citizens of Belarus, foreign nationals and stateless persons involved in extremist activity".
