Pavel Sakalou
Date of birth: 26 August 1985
Date of detention: 20 September 2021
Charges indicted:
Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal code — Training or other preparation of persons for participation in mass riots, or financing of this activity
Art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code — Creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it
Sentence: 4 1/2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Judge: Yauhen Burunou
Prison: Penal colony No. 15
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Pavel Sakalou was arrested in Viciebsk in late September 2021 and charged under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code (creation of an extremist group or participation in it) for creating and leading several groups in the Telegram messaging application.
In May 2022 Judge Evgeny Burunov found Pavel guilty under two articles of the Criminal Code: Part 3 of Article 293 (training for participation in mass riots) and Article 361-1 (creating an extremist formation) and sentenced him to 4.5 years in a general-security penal colony. The case was heard in the Viciebsk Regional Court in a closed session.