Vital Shytsikau
sentenced to 2 1/2 years
Date of birth: 25 April 1997
Date of detention: 29 April 2021
Charges indicted:
Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
Sentence: 2 1/2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Prison sentence start date: 29 April 2021
Judge: Vital Lapko
Vital Shytsikau is a resident of Navapolack sentenced to 2 years of restricted freedom in an open correctional facility ("khimiya").
On January 21, 2021, Judge Vital Lapko of the Navapolack City Court sentenced Vital Shytsikau (along with another defendant in the case, Viktar Shaura) to two years of "khimiya" under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violated public order).
According to the indictment, "Viktar Shaura together with Vital Shytsikau and other unidentified persons took an active part in group actions in the evening of August 10, which grossly violated public order <...> On a red traffic light, they blocked traffic, shouted "Long Live Belarus!", "Shame", "Disgrace", "Leave!", clapped their hands, swore obscenely at law enforcement officials."
In early June, Shytsikau was temporarily released to await a new consideraiton of his case.
On June 18, 2021, Vital was sentenced to two years and six months of restricted freedom in a general-security penal colony.
On September 10, 2021, Vitaly left Belarus.
