Yaraslau Sakovich

sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment

Prisoner

Date of birth: 9 June 1980

Date of detention: 5 August 2022

Charges indicted:

  • Art. 370 of the Criminal Code — Desecration of state symbols
  • Art. 295 of the Criminal Code — Unlawful acts against firearms, ammunition and explosives
  • Art. 356 of the Criminal Code — High treason

Sentence: 11 years

Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony

Judge: Siarhei Katser, Anastasiya Papko

Prison: Pre-trial detention center No. 1

Notes: Detention upon return to Belarus, War in Ukraine

Yaraslau Sakovich used to live in Ukraine but returned to Belarus in 2021 to take care of his sick parents. He is married to a Ukrainian.

He was arrested by the KGB. They tried to force out of him a confession that he had previously fought in Ukraine, called his wife and promised to send her his head. After that, Yaraslau Sakovich was released. A year later, he was arrested again.

From April 19 to May 4, 2023, Sakovich was tried by the Maskoŭski District Court of Minsk. On May 4, he was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony under two articles of the Criminal Code: Article 295 ('Illegal actions with firearms, ammunition, and explosives') and Article 370 ('Desecration of the state symbols').

It is known that two more criminal cases have been opened against Yaraslau Sakovich. He is still remanded in custody.

      On August 4, 2023, Yaraslau was included in the "list of Belarusian citizens, foreign citizens or stateless persons involved in extremist activities" by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Currently, Sakovich is on trial under Article 356 of the Criminal Code for high treason.

Mail address: Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 223016, Navadvorski selsavet, 143/4, v. Pashkovichy, Minsk rajon, Minsk voblast

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