Kiryl Balakhonau
sentenced to 3 1/2 years of imprisonment
Prisoner
Date of birth: 25 December 2003
Date of detention: 8 November 2022
Charges indicted:
- Art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code — Creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it
- Art. 361-4 of the Criminal Code — Promoting extremist activities
Sentence: 3 1/2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony
Judge: Alena Bachyshcha
Prison: Penal colony No. 1
Cases: The case of the Union of the Belarusian National Shield
Kiryl Balakhonau is 19 years old. He is from the Homieĺ region. He is one of the five members of the closed chat room The Union of the Belarusian National Shield (SBNSH) arrested in early November 2022. The Ministry of Internal Affairs recognized SBNSH as an extremist organization a week earlier. They initiated criminal proceedings against the detainees under the article on 'the creation of an extremist formation'.
A press release from the Ministry of Internal Affairs described Kiryl Balakhonau as an 18-year-old resident of Buda-Kašaliova, Homieĺ region, who was going to "go to Ukraine to participate in the hostilities as a member of a nationalist battalion".
The case was heard from June 29 to July 7, 2023, in the Minsk Regional Court. Judge Alena Bachyshcha conducted the trial behind closed doors.
Kiryl Balakhonau was convicted under Part 1 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') and Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361-4 ('Supporting extremist activities') of the Criminal Code and sentenced to three years and six months of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony.
Aleh Dabrydneu (aged 17, from the Mahilioŭ region) was also convicted under Part 1 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') and Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361-4 ('Supporting extremist activities') of the Criminal Code. Uladzislau Yafimovich was convicted under Part 3 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') and Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361-4 ('Supporting extremist activities') of the Criminal Code. Aliaksandr Rukoits (aged 27, Hrodna region) was convicted under Part 3 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') and Part 1 of Article 130 ('Incitement of other social hatred or enmity') of the Criminal Code.
Besides, on July 5, 2023, in the Minsk Regional Court, Mikita Brui (aged 17) was also convicted under Part 1 of Article 130-1 ('Incitement of other social hatred or enmity') and Parts 1 and 2 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') of the Criminal Code.
Four of the convicts are in custody. The fate of the fifth one is unknown.
