Dzmitry Shymanski
musician, sentenced to 3 years of restricted freedom, released, left Belarus
Date of detention: 2 August 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: 3 years
Penalty: restricted freedom in an open penal facility ("khimiya")
Judge: Aleh Kaliada
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Godparent: Valérie Piller Carrard, member of the Swiss National Council
Dzmitry Shymanski is a musician from Minsk.
Shymanski was arrested on August 2, 2021 at a summer house near Minsk during the birthday party of IRDORATH vocalist Nadzeya Kalach. Several other musician were arrested, too. Some of them were later sentenced to short terms of administrative imprisonment on charges of "disobedience to the police," including Shymanski, who was imprisoned for 15 days. Others faced criminal charges under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
It later became known that Shymanski was also a suspect in the case and remained in custody after serving 15 days.
On October 29, 2021, the Zavodski District Court of Minsk sentenced Dzmitry Shymanski to three years of restricted freedom in an open penitentiary (“khimiya”) on charges of organizing “actions that grossly violated public order” and “training of persons to participate in such actions” (Parts 1 and 2 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code).
The convict was released in the courtroom to wait for an appeal hearing.
In late November 2021, Shymanski left Belarus fearing imminent imprisonment.
