The court of the Soviet district in Minsk sentenced the oppositionist Stepan Latypov, who previously tried to commit suicide during the court hearing, to 8.5 years of the colony in reinforced mode. It is reported by the Human Rights Center “Spring”.
According to the organization, the young man was recognized as guilty of three articles of the Criminal Code of Belarus: about organizing mass riots, the provision of resistance to law enforcement officers and fraud in particularly large amounts.
The court also ordered it to pay a fine in the amount of 300 basic values (about 257 thousand rubles). It was such a measure of punishment that Prosecutor Vladimir Ryabov requested. Latapov himself did not recognize the guilt by any article. In his last word, he told about cruel torture and beatings of him and other prisoners by the security forces.
Latypov was detained in September 2020. According to the investigation, in August last year, Latypov began a chat in Telegram, where he called on the neighbors to protest actions and “destructive activities aimed at aggravating tensions in society.” He allegedly organized the meetings of like-minded people, the spread of campaigning products and “applying drawings and protest inscriptions” on the facades of houses.
On June 1, Latypov tried to cut her throat during the court hearing. He was removed without consciousness from the courtroom and sent at ambulance to the hospital. Before the suicide attempt, the defendant declared his father that the security forces threatened: if he does not recognize the guilt, criminal cases against their relatives and neighbors will be initiated.
In August 2020, the presidential elections were held in Belarus in Belarus, which once again defeated Alexander Lukashenko. Official results caused mass protests throughout the country that continued for several months. The persecution of opposition politicians by the Belarusian authorities continues until now. Also, many media and non-governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations have fallen under mass stripping.