Vasil Yermakou
former bank employee, sentenced to six years of imprisonment
Prisoner
Date of birth: 14 March 1987
Date of detention: 5 July 2022
Charges indicted:
- Art. 130 of the Criminal Code — Incitement to hatred
- Art. 352 of the Criminal Code — Illegal acquisition of computer information
- Art. 203-1 of the Criminal Code — Illegal actions with respect to information about private life and personal data
Sentence: 6 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony
Prison sentence start date: 12 May 2023
Judge: Alena Misnik
Prison: Penal colony No. 3
Groups: Government employees
Cases: Protests in Minsk, The Black Book of Belarus case
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Vasil Yermakou, a 35-year-old former employee of the BelVEB bank, was arrested in early July 2022. Pro-government Telegram channels claimed that he had leaked the personal data of law enforcers, teachers, and doctors. In the "penitential" video, Yermakou said he had participated in the rallies in Minsk and transferred information about the MIA employees to the Black Book of Belarus Telegram bot "using his official powers".
On February 13, 2023, the Minsk Regional Court began the trial. Vasil Yermakou was accused under three articles of the Criminal Code: Part 3 of Article 130 ('Inciting other kinds of social enmity'), Article 352 ('Illegal possession of computer information'), and Part 3 of Article 203-1 ('Unlawful actions regarding privacy information and personal data').
On February 17, 2023, Judge Alena Misnik found Vasil Yermakou guilty and sentenced him to six years in a medium-security penal colony.
