Trade Union Leader Andrei Khanevich Sentenced To Five Years In Prison

Judge Vital Kulesh considered the case.

Human rights activists at the Viasna Human Rights Center report that Andrei Khanevich was sentenced in Hrodna today. The charges against the activist were based on accusations of “discrediting the Republic of Belarus” and “propaganda of extremist activities”. Judge Vital Kulesh considered the case.

The Belorussian Independent Trade Union was liquidated in spring 2022 while Andrei was under an administrative arrest. The reason for liquidation became the attempt to organize strike within an enterprise allegedly “exclusively for the political purposes”. After his dismissal from the enterprise, a criminal case was opened against Andrei.

On November 16, the judge of the Hrodna Regional Court Vital Kulesh found Andrei Khanevich guilty under the Criminal Code, Art. 369-1 (Discrediting the Republic of Belarus) and Art. 361-4 (Assistance to extremist activity), and sentenced him to five years in a colony with a reinforced regime.

47-year-old Andrei Khanevich worked as an operator at the Carbamide-3 workshop of the JSC Grodno Azot. The man has three children.