Viktar Novik
Prisoner
Date of birth: 2 February 1989
Date of detention: 15 April 2022
Charges indicted:
- Art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code — Creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it
- Art. 356 of the Criminal Code — High treason
- Art. 426 of the Criminal Code: Abuse of power or authority
Sentence: 13 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony
Prison sentence start date: 24 May 2024
Judge: Siarhei Khrypach
Prison: Penal colony No. 17
Groups: Law enforcement officers
Viktar Novik is a customs officer.
From October 10, 2023 to February 6, 2024, Minsk City Court held a closed session against three customs officers, including Yauhen Hurynovich, Viktar Novik, and Uladzimir Zhuromski. In total, they were charged under eight articles of the Criminal Code. They faced charges related to "high treason," "promoting extremist activities," "abuse of power or authority," "incitement of social hatred," "participation in extremist formations".
The details of the case and the reasons for the prosecution are unknown to human rights activists.
Judge Siarhei Khrypach sentenced Viktar to 13 years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony. Additionally, he was fined 20,000 rubles.
He was first held at pre-trial detention center No. 1 and later transferred to prison No. 4.
