Vasil Lohvinau
sentenced to 2 years of restricted freedom
Date of birth: 8 February 1984
Date of detention: 14 May 2021
Charges indicted:
Part 2 of Art. 339 of the Criminal Code — Hooliganism committed by a group of persons
Sentence: 2 years
Penalty: restricted freedom in an open penal facility ("khimiya")
Judge: Dzmitry Karsiuk
Prosecutor: Artsiom Tsviatkou
Prison: Released awaiting the commencement of the sentence
Vasil Lohvinau is a resident of Minsk detained in May 2021 for painting a mural portraying the “DJs of Change" in the so-called “Square of Change”.
Lohvinau and two women were detained on May 14. They were initially charged under Article 341 of the Criminal Code (desecration of buildings and damage to property). The women were later released, while Vasil was remanded in custody. His apartment was searched twice, during which a computer and six white-red-white flags were confiscated.
Finally, he was charged under Part 2 of Art. 339 of the Criminal Code (malicious hooliganism). Vasil was also a suspect in a case of "group actions that grossly violate public order" (Article 342 of the Criminal Code).
On August 23, the Centraĺni District Court of Minsk sentenced him to two years in an open penitentiary ("khimiya"). The convict was released in the courtroom after three months in custody.
