Larysa Shchyrakova
Prisoner
Date of birth: 13 April 1973
Date of detention: 6 December 2022
Charges indicted:
- Art. 361-4 of the Criminal Code — Promoting extremist activities
- Art. 369-1 of the Criminal Code — Discrediting Belarus
Sentence: 3 1/2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Judge: Mikalai Dolia
Prison: Penal colony No. 4
Groups: Journalists
Notes: Single parents
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Godparent: Wendy Chamberlain is a Liberal Democrats member in the House of Commons
Larysa Shchyrakova, a former journalist, was detained in the evening of December 6, 2022, after a search of her home. Her son was taken to a shelter on the same day.
Later it became known that a criminal case was opened against Shchyrakova under Art. 369-1 of the Criminal Code ('Discrediting the Republic of Belarus'). She was transferred to the Gomel pre-trial detention center.
On August 31, 2023, Larysa was sentenced to three years and six months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony.
On September 22, 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs added Larysa to the "list of extremists".
Three politicians from the UK and Germany become godparents for Larysa Shchyrakova, Yauhen Hlushkou and Tatsiana, and Aliaksandr Birulia
