Ryhor Saladounikau

sentenced to 1 1/2 years of restricted freedom, served his term, released

Former prisoner

Date of birth: 14 April 1992

Date of detention: 22 November 2020

Charges indicted:

  • Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them

Sentence: 1 1/2 years

Penalty: restricted freedom in an open penal facility ("khimiya")

Prison sentence start date: 30 July 2021

Date of release: 14 May 2022

Judge: Viktoryia Paliashchuk

Prosecutor: Valeryi Piarkouski

Ryhor Saladounikau is a resident of Maladziečna detained on November 22 as part of a criminal case for blocking road traffic. Dzmitry was charged under a criminal article for organizing group actions that grossly violated public order and caused a disruption of public transport (Article 342 of the Criminal Code).

He was first detained in the Maladziečna pre-trial detention center, then transferred to the Žodzina pre-trial prison.

According to the case file, on November 21, 2020, several people aged 20 to 33 blocked traffic on Vialiki Hasciniec Street in Maladziečna and stretched a banner reading, “While there is lawlessness in the country, resistance is our duty.” Another man observed the protest to help the demonstrators avoid arrest. They left the scene in less than a minute after the traffic lights turned green.

On March 31, 2021, Judge Viktoryia Paliashchuk of the Maladziečna District Court sentenced Saladounikau to one year and six months of restricted freedom in an open correctional facility ("khimiya"). The convict was released from custody in the courtroom to await an appeal hearing.

On July 30, the convict was re-arrested and sent to serve his sentence.

Ryhor served his sentence in full and was released in mid-May 2022.

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