The man graduated from the Military Engineering and Technical University in Leningrad (VIT). In the 1980s, he experienced the war in Afghanistan, serving in Kabul as an officer in military unit 26190 (the 5131st reinforced concrete production base of the 40th Army) and managing a workshop that produced structures for the Soviet contingent.
He is now retired.
The former serviceman was tried in the Grodno Regional Court. He was charged with Part 1 of Article 130 (inciting social hatred) and Parts 1 and 2 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code (assisting extremist activity). These are typical articles used for baseless political persecution. The specific charges against the former Afghan veteran are still unknown.
