Uladzimir Balabanovich
Prisoner
Date of birth: 12 June 1975
Charges indicted:
- Art. 361 of the Criminal Code — Calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus
- Art. 130 of the Criminal Code — Incitement to hatred
Sentence: 3 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Judge: Vera Halaukova
Prison: Penal colony No. 11
Groups: Businessmen
Cases: Protests in Minsk
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Uladzimir Balabanovich is a businessman and co-founder of Industrial Kinetic Lab, a company that produces equipment for stone processing. He also previously served as Director of Security at Belagro Group of Companies.
The date of the businessman's detention is unknown, but there is information that Balabanovich was included in the “extremist formation” Trielit (a yard chat of the owners' association, which manages new buildings in Minsk) at the end of January 2024. At that time, he was likely already in custody.
Balabanovich is accused of inciting social enmity (Article 130 of the Criminal Code) and calling for restrictive measures that would harm the country's national security (Article 361 of the Criminal Code).
The trial commenced on May 2, 2024, in Minsk City Court with Judge Vera Halaukova presiding. It is likely that Uladzimir has already been sentenced.