Ryta Zotava
student, sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment
Former prisoner
Date of birth: 25 January 2002
Date of detention: 28 December 2021
Charges indicted:
- Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
- Art. 341 of the Criminal Code — Desecration of structures and damage to property
Sentence: 2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Date of release: 12 October 2023
Judge: Piotr Tsyhanok
Prosecutor: Dzianis Lapitski
Cases: Protests in Homieĺ
Groups: Students
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Godparent: Olga Richterová, Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic
Ryta Zotava was arrested on December 28, 2021, for posting leaflets, the content of which, according to investigators, was degrading to OMON officers. She was accused of inciting social hatred (Article 130 of the Criminal Code).
Ryta was held in pre-trial detention.
On March 23, 2022, Judge Piotr Tsyhanok sentenced her to 24 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony.
Ryta was included in the list of Belarusian citizens, foreign citizens and stateless persons involved in extremist activities.
On October 12, 2023, Ryta was released from prison.
