Homiel Chess Champion Sent To Compulsory Treatment For Truth About Lukashenka

Homel accused dictator of serious crimes.

The Homel Centralny District Court has sent Valiery Yarotski to a psychiatric hospital for compulsory treatment, reports the Viasna human rights centre.

He was accused of "slandering" Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

Judge Viktar Kozachek handed down the sentence on 19 July, but the details of the case have only now become known to human rights activists.

Valery Yarotsky, a native of Zhlobin, has repeatedly served as an election observer for the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. In 2019, the man became the city chess champion and also won a speed tournament in Asipovichy.

According to the case documents, Yarotski sent handwritten and electronic letters to the KGB, the Interior Ministry, the Prosecutor's Office and the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums, accusing Lukashenka of serious crimes.

He prepared similar letters against one of the prosecutors of the Homel region. What exactly was in the texts of the appeals is not specified.

"The court sentenced Yarotsky to compulsory treatment and banned him from leaving the country.