Iryna Abdukeryna

former teacher, sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment

Prisoner

Date of birth: 27 May 1972

Date of detention: 5 April 2022

Charges indicted:

  • Art. 361-1 of the Criminal Code — Creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it
  • Art. 130 of the Criminal Code — Incitement to hatred
  • Art. 361-2 of the Criminal Code — Financing the activities of an extremist group
  • Art. 369-1 of the Criminal Code — Discrediting Belarus

Sentence: 4 years

Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony

Prison sentence start date: 6 March 2023

Judge: Ruslan Tsaruk

Prison: Penal colony No. 4

Notes: War in Ukraine

Godparent: Damien Cottier, Member of the Swiss National Council

Iryna Abdukeryna, a former teacher from Chojniki, was detained at her summer house on the morning of April 5. The reason for the arrest was that the woman had allegedly recorded the movement of a Russian military convoy and forwarded the video to the Bielaruski hajun Telegram channel. This is stated in the “repentant” video of her.

The woman was charged under four articles of the Criminal Code:

  • “creation of an extremist formation, or participation in it” (Art. 361-1),
  • “incitement to hatred” (Art. 130),
  • “financing the activities of an extremist group” (Art. 361-2), and
  • “discrediting Belarus” (Art. 369-1).

On December 6, 2022, Judge Ruslan Tsarus of the Homieĺ Regional Court found Abdukeryna guilty and sentenced her to four years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony. She was also fined 3,200 Belarusian rubles (approx. US$1,260).

Teacher gets four years in jail for a video with Russian military equipment

The trial of Iryna Abdukeryna is over. The hearings started on November 28 in the Homieĺ Regional Court and continued till December 6. The trial was closed to the public. Judge Ruslan Tsaruk considered the case.

 

Taking pics of Russian troops considered extremism

Seven criminal cases have been opened in the Homieĺ region bordering Ukraine for passing on the information about Russian military vehicles movement to “extremist” Telegram channels, the Investigative Committee reports. Cases are brought under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code (Promoting extremist activities); detainees face up to six years in prison. Viasna tells what is known about them.

 

Mail address: Penal colony No. 4. 246035, Homieĺ, vulica Antoshkina 3

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