Uladzislau Vaitsiakhovich
sentenced to 21 years of imprisonment
Prisoner
Date of birth: 20 February 1995
Date of detention: 13 August 2021
Charges indicted:
- Art. 289 of the Criminal Code — An act of terrorism
Sentence: 21 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony
Judge: Siarhei Khrypach
Prison: Prison No. 1
Cases: Gaidukevich case
Groups: The military
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Uladzislau Vaitsiakhovich graduated from the Military Academy of Belarus and lived in Minsk. He was arrested together with his wife and parents (see below).
According to the indictment, from July 14, 2020, to January 6, 2022, "an organized criminal group was created and operated on the territory of Belarus, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine, and other states, with the main purpose to commit an unspecified number of extremism-oriented crimes. The crimes were to be carried out by persons who are radically inclined towards the current government, including former military personnel, law enforcement officers, primarily those from the special forces units, hand-to-hand combat athletes, businessmen, and others who shared the views of the seizure of state power by unconstitutional means".
On June 21, 2023, the Minsk City Court announced the verdict. There were 18 defendants in the case, 15 of whom were in custody, and three were convicted in absentia. The trial lasted for four and a half months. Judge Siarhei Khrypach sentenced Uladzislau Vaitsiakhovich to 21 years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony, with the first five years to be served in prison, and deprivation of military rank.
17 more political prisoners were convicted in the case: Vadzim Prakopyeu, Ihar Chamiakin, Dzianis Khamitsevich, Siarhei Lisouski, Piotr Yurkevich, Pavel Chykhinski, Dzianis Filonchyk, Vital Vaitsiakhovich (father), Volha Vaitsiakhovich (mother), Anastasiya Vaitsiakhovich (daughter in law), Uladzimir Saviankou, Dzmitryi Neviarkevich, Volha Piatukh, Mikalai Roi, Siarhei Sakalou, Eduard Piastrak, and Aliaksei Mikhailau.