Vital Prokharau
served full term, released
Former prisoner
Date of birth: 3 May 2003
Date of detention: 8 February 2021
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
Sentence: 2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a juvenile penal colony
Date of release: 15 December 2022
Judge: Iryna Pradun
Prosecutor: Andrei Anoshka
Notes: Detained juveniles, Health issues
Cases: Protests in Žlobin
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Godparent: Stephanie Krisper, member of the Austrian National Council
Vital Prokharau is 17-year-old resident of Žlobin. He was charged under two articles of the Criminal Code: Part 1 of Art. 342 (Organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order) and Art. 364 (Violence or threat of violence against a police officer).
According to the indictment, at a protest on August 10, Prokharau threw at least one stone at a police van, which caused material damage to the vehicle. He was detained the same day by riot police and severely beaten.
"He was mocked for two hours. He was taught how to live, insulted, told that he would be imprisoned for a thousand years. Tied up, he was punched in the eye. His entire back was covered with traces of truncheons, legs were wounded, he had a black eye, bumps on the head, bruises all over the body. Lame on both legs," Vital's stepfather told journalists about the boy's condition after the arrest.
Prokharau said that he did not throw a stone, but boasted that he broke the windshield of a police van to "show off on Instagram". His friend filmed this and posted it in a Telegram channel.
On February 8, 2021, Vital Prokharau was sentenced to 2 years in a juvenile penitentiary.
Prokharau served his sentence in full and was released on December 15, 2022.
