Siarhei Verashchahin
sentenced to 5 years in prison
Prisoner
Date of birth: 29 September 1989
Date of detention: 12 August 2020
Charges indicted:
- Art. 364 of the Criminal Code — Violence or threat of violence against an employee of the internal affairs bodies
Sentence: 5 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a high security prison
Judge: Siarhei Salouski
Prison: Prison No. 1
Notes: Health issues, Prison security level
Cases: Protests in Homieĺ
Siarhei Verashchahin was sentenced to 5 years in prison under Article 364 of the Criminal Code (violence against a police officer).
He was detained on August 12, 2020. He was severely beaten during the detention. At the hospital, among the diagnoses were closed traumatic brain injury, stroke, and multiple hematomas, including of the chest, neck, spine, and temporal areas.
Verashchahin was accused of allegedly shouting at police officers from the window of his apartment, including using obscene lamguage, while the officers were arresting protesters, and throwing bottles at them. Verashchahin pleaded not guilty.
Siarhei wrote that in October 2021 the court decided to transfer him to the strict regime. The political prisoner was sent from Hrodna Colony No. 13 to Hrodna Prison No. 1.
He was included in the list of Belarusian citizens, foreign citizens and stateless persons involved in extremist activities.