Siarhei Shpak

retired military officer

Former prisoner

Date of birth: 25 October 1971

Date of detention: 16 July 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: Katsiaryna Murashka

Notes: Parents of three or more children

Groups: The military

Siarhei Shpak is a retired lieutenant colonel, who took part in the video address of the retired officers to the Belarusian military.

Shpak was detained during a wave of searches on July 16, 2021.

According to Lukashenka's decree, he, like eight dozen other officers, was deprived of his military rank. Siarhei Shpak had 28 years of service.

It is known that the man was charged under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (group actions grossly violating public order).

Shpak has four children, two of them minors.

On December 14, the Maskovskoŭski District Court of Minsk sentenced Siarhei Shpak to a 3-year home confinement. He was released immediately after the announcement of the verdict.

 

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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