Former political prisonersReleased

Eduard Viktorovich Pestrak

Dissidentby since
Viasna since

Eduard, a riot police officer of the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs, had been in service since 2006. Like many of his colleagues, he was subject to surveillance. It is known that at the base of military unit 3214, Eduard participated in special forces training and exercises to disperse mass events using special equipment. He was detained in August 2021 as part of a criminal case initiated under the article "act of terrorism."

According to the indictment, from July 2020 to January 2022, "an organized criminal group operated in Belarus, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine and other countries with the goal of committing extremist crimes. The group included radical individuals, including former and current military personnel, law enforcement officers, athletes and businessmen, who sought to seize power illegally." The case involves charges of attempted arson of the home of MP Oleg Gaidukevich in June 2021 and "organizing mass riots."

Eduard was convicted under the article on "inaction of an official" with imprisonment, as well as a ban on holding government positions and positions related to the performance of the functions of a representative of the authorities for a period of five years. In addition, he was stripped of his military rank.

According to human rights activists, he was released at the end of January 2024, having fully served his sentence imposed by the court.

Sentences

Trial outcome 21.06.2023
3 years 6 months of imprisonment in colony under enhanced security conditions, deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities, military service restriction.
Appeal 04.10.2023
the sentence was upheld.

Involved in repression

Sergey Fedorovich Khripach
Sergey Fedorovich Khripach
Judges16 april 1966
Place:
Minsk City Court
Type:
Court of First Instance
Date:
21.06.2023
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Igor Vyacheslavovich Lyubovitsky
Igor Vyacheslavovich Lyubovitsky
Judges21 july 1983
Place:
Supreme Court
Type:
Appeal
Date:
04.10.2023
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Andrey Mikhailovich Cedric
Andrey Mikhailovich Cedric
Overseers20 april 1978
Place:
SIZO-1
Type:
Head of the correctional facility
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Co-defendants

Articles

Eduard Viktorovich Pestrak
In custody:
Case categories:
The Gaidukevich Case
Hometown:
Ivatsevichy
Birthday:
11.11.1983
Number of children:
1
Articles:
Groups:
Parents of minorsLaw enforcement
Marks:

Timeline

  1. 2021
  2. 13.08.2021

    Transfer

    SIZO-1 — In custody

  3. 2023
  4. 21.06.2023

    Trial outcome 21.06.2023

    3 years 6 months of imprisonment in colony under enhanced security conditions, deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities, military service restriction, Minsk City Court

  5. 04.10.2023

    Appeal 04.10.2023

    the sentence was upheld, Supreme Court

  6. 20.10.2023

    Status change

    In custody

  7. 2024
  8. ~29.01.2024

    Status change

    Released