Ivan Zubko
chef, sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment
Former prisoner
Date of birth: 27 September 1995
Date of detention: 16 November 2020
Charges indicted:
- Art. 342 of the Criminal Code β Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
Sentence: 4 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Prison sentence start date: 3 May 2021
Date of release: 1 December 2023
Judge: Dzmitry Astapenka
Prosecutor: Kuntsevich
Cases: Protests in Minsk
Ivan Zubko is a cook from Minsk convicted in a criminal case under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
According to the indictment, Ivan took part in a march on November 1, 2020. He allegedly ignored demands by the police, chanting slogans and walking on the road. Zubko did not admit his guilt, noting that on November 1 he went out to express his peaceful protest against lies.
The authorities refused to investigate Ivan Zubko's report of violence used against him by security officers.
On February 3, 2021, Judge Dzmitry Astapenka of the Zavodski District Court of Minsk sentenced Ivan Zubko to three years of restricted freedom in an open correctional facility.
On May 3, 2021, the political prisoner started serving his sentence.
While Zubko was serving his sentence, another criminal case was filed against him—most likely under Article 327 (‘theft of drugs’) or 328 of the Criminal Code (‘drug trafficking’). As a result, the political prisoner was sentenced to four years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony.