Zhlobin Soldiers Sentenced To Military Detention For Protests

‘Judge’ Sviatlana Andreeva delivered the verdicts.

Zhlobin District Court “judge” Sviatlana Andreeva, sentenced two servicemen over two days, September 5 and 6, accusing them of “organizing and preparing actions that grossly violated public order, or actively participating in them” (Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code ), human rights activists report.

Artur Panchanka served under contract in a military base as a senior fire rescuer of the Military Fire Protection and Rescue Team in Zhlobin.

According to the case file, Artur Panchanka, “acted jointly and in cooperation with other individuals as a group from approximately 21:00 on August 9 to 1:30 on August 10, 2020, was standing on the roadway, impeding the flow of traffic, he was clapping his hands, loudly shouting, whistling, shouting various slogans, while refusing to comply with the legitimate demands of government officials.”

The “court” decided to sentence Panchanka to arrest for a period of three months. The term of serving the sentence will start from the first day of the military detention at the military commandant's office.

On the second day, September 6, “judge” Andreeva considered the criminal case of another serviceman, 20-year-old Maksim Ausiannikau.

Maxim is currently undergoing compulsory military service at a military base in Barysau. The essence of the charge is similar to the first trial and the verdict is as a blueprint.

The sentence is also the same - arrest for a period of three months of military detention.