Vital Vaitsiakhovich
sentenced to 19 years of imprisonment
Prisoner
Date of birth: 4 January 1967
Date of detention: 13 August 2021
Charges indicted:
- Art. 289 of the Criminal Code — An act of terrorism
Sentence: 19 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony
Judge: Siarhei Khrypach
Prison: Prison No. 4
Cases: Gaidukevich case
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Vital Vaitsiakhovich lived in Barysaŭ, Minsk region, and worked at an enterprise producing timber-framed windows. He was arrested together with his wife, son, and daughter-in-law (see below).
According to the indictment, from July 14, 2020, to January 6, 2022, "an organized criminal group was created and operated on the territory of Belarus, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine, and other states, with the main purpose to commit an unspecified number of extremism-oriented crimes. The crimes were to be carried out by persons who are radically inclined towards the current government, including former military personnel, law enforcement officers, primarily those from the special forces units, hand-to-hand combat athletes, businessmen, and others who shared the views of the seizure of state power by unconstitutional means".
On June 21, 2023, the Minsk City Court announced the verdict. There were 18 defendants in the case, 15 of whom were in custody, and three were convicted in absentia. The trial lasted for four and a half months. Judge Siarhei Khrypach sentenced Vital Vaitsiakhovich to 19 years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony, with the first five years to be served in prison.
17 more political prisoners were convicted in the case: Vadzim Prakopyeu, Ihar Chamiakin, Dzianis Khamitsevich, Siarhei Lisouski, Piotr Yurkevich, Pavel Chykhinski, Dzianis Filonchyk, Volha Vaitsiakhovich (mother), Uladzislau Vaitsiakhovich (son), Anastasiya Vaitsiakhovich (daughter-in-law), Uladzimir Saviankou, Dzmitryi Neviarkevich, Volha Piatukh, Mikalai Roi, Siarhei Sakalou, Eduard Piastrak, and Aliaksei Mikhailau.