Vasil Lohvinau

sentenced to 2 years of restricted freedom

Former prisoner

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")

Date of release: 3 May 2023

Judge: Dzmitry Karsiuk

Prosecutor: Artsiom Tsviatkou

Cases: Protests in Minsk

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.

Addresses of prisons:

What should I know and how to help?

✉️ Write a letter. Make a scan of your letter or postcard and share it online

🤝 Please use the Russian (or Belarusian) name of the prison

💡 Foreign-language messages may be blocked, so attach a translation (e.g. translate.google.com)

💡 A big guide about helping Belarusian political prisoners from abroad

💡 More tips here

Support “Viasna”