Viktoryia Mirontsava
served full term, released
Former prisoner
Date of birth: 21 November 1994
Date of detention: 15 October 2020
Charges indicted:
- Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
- Art. 364 of the Criminal Code — Violence or threat of violence against an employee of the internal affairs bodies
- Art. 363 of the Criminal Code — Resistance to a police officer or other person guarding public order
Sentence: 2 1/2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Date of release: 16 December 2022
Judge: Aliaksandr Volk
Cases: Protests in Minsk
Viktoryia Mirontsava was detained on October 15, 2020, as part of a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (active participation in group actions which gravely breach public order).
Viktoryia's sister Anastasiya was also detained as part of the case.
Viktoryia, 26, and Anastasiya, 24, were accused of joining a protest held in central Minsk on August 10. They reportedly shouted slogans and clapped their hands, while refusing to leave the street.
According to the investigation, these actions led to a “prolonged disturbance of public peace,” obstruction of public and other transport, and interfered with the regular operation of the Minsktrans city transport operator, which requested 21,831 rubles in damages.
The same day, the girls allegedly resisted arrest. In particular, Viktoryia physically resisted detention, including by breaking the lock applied by a riot police officer.
On April 1, 2021, Judge Aliaksandr Volk of the Saviecki District Court of Minsk sentenced Viktoryia Mirontsava to two and a half years in a general-security penal colony, finding her guilty of “breaching public order” (Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code) and “using violence against police officers” (Part 1 of Art. 363).
Mirontsava served her sentence in full and was released on December 16, 2022.
