Maksim Klimovich

former police officer, sentenced to 3 years

Former prisoner

Date of detention: 17 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 under home confinement ("domashnyaya khimiya")

Judge: Yuryi Mashketau

Prosecutor: Yauhen Serakou

Notes: Detention upon return to Belarus

Groups: Law enforcement officers

Cases: Protests in Minsk

Maksim Klimovich is a former riot police officer. He left the police after the election of 2010.

In the summer of 2021, he left to live in Poland, but was forced to return. A few days after his return, on August 17, he was detained at home in the village of Chaciežyna near Minsk. The search was carried out under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (actions that grossly violate public order).

After the detention, GUBAZIK officers recorded a video confession showing the former riot police officer admitting to intending to "oppose law enforcement officers" on August 9-11, 2020.

On November 2, 2021, the court of the Maskoŭski district of Minsk found Klimovich guilty under Article 342 of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to three years of restricted freedom (home confinement). The convict was released in the courtroom.

Who are former law enforcers persecuted for speaking out against Lukashenka

Last May Lukashenka stripped of military and special ranks more than 80 former officers of law enforcement bodies, who joined the independent association of security forces ByPOL or supported protests. Viasna collected names of former law enforcement and military officers who spoke out against Lukashenka's regime and who are persecuted by the state. Most of them are recognized as political prisoners.

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