Yauhen Minkevich is from Babrujsk. He as arrested on March 30, 2022 together with Dzmitryi Klimau and Uladzimir Auramtsau. They are suspected of destroying two relay cabinets near Asipovičy (in Mahilioŭ region).

The men tried to escape while being arrested. The law enforcers used lethal weapons against them, at least one of the detainees was wounded and is now in a medical facility, while the others “received medical care on the spot”.

While being arrested, the three men actively resisted and tried to escape. The law enforcers used lethal weapons against them. One of the detainees was wounded and placed in a medical facility, while the others were treated at the scene. The Community of Railwaymen of Belarus Telegram channel wrote that after the arrest, the law enforcers purposefully shot in the knee joints the men who were not resisting.

It is known that Yauhen Minkevich graduated from the Olympic reserve school - he studied at the Physical Education Faculty of the State Pedagogical University in Mazyr. He did not make a career in sports. He worked as an orderly in the ambulance in Babrujsk, and as a taxi driver for various taxi services.

In early May 2022, he was transferred from remand prison #5 in Babrujsk to prison #4 in Mahilioŭ.

The "railway partisans" are charged with five articles of the Criminal Code: Part 3 of Art. 289 ('Act of terrorism committed by organized group'); Part 2 of Art. 290-4 ('Participation in organization to commit terrorist acts'); Part 1 of Art. 356 ('Treason against the state'); Part 4 of Art. 309 ('Deliberately incapacitating a vehicle or communication lines'); and Part 2 of Art. 406 ('Failure to report a crime').

On January 23, 2023, in the Mahilioŭ Regional Court, Judge Ihar Shvedau began hearing the case of the Babrujsk "railway partisans" in a closed session.

On February 10, 2023, Dzmitryi Klimau and Uladzimir Auramtsau were sentenced to 22 years of imprisonment in a penal colony. Yauhen Minkevich was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment in a penal colony. He was partially released from the punishment for a period of one year under the Law on Amnesty in Connection with National Unity Day.

Two “railway guerillas” receive 22 years of jail, and another released under an amnesty

On February 10, the Mahilioŭ Regional Court passed a verdict to three “rail guerillas” from Babrujsk: Dzmitryi Klimau, Uladzimir Auramtsau, and Yauhen Minkevich. The first two were sentenced to 22 years in a penal colony each, and the latter was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment. It is noted that Minkevich was partially released from punishment for a period of one year under the law “On Amnesty in connection with the National Unity Day”. Taking into account the time in custody the punishment is considered to have been served. Judge Ihar Shvedau considered the case behind closed doors for two weeks.

Rail War: what we know about “Rail guerillas”

Since the onset of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops, including from Belarusian territory, the “Rail War” has been unfolded in Belarus. To slow down and prevent the movement of Russian military equipment into Ukraine, Belarusians are disrupting the railway network. Despite the state considering such actions as acts of terrorism, sabotage on the railroad does not stop: over a month more than a dozen of such acts have been recorded.