Former NEXTA telegram channel editor Roman Protasevich, sentenced to 8 years in prison, told reporters he had been pardoned. His words son BelTa.
“Literally, I have just signed all the relevant documents indicating that I have been pardoned. This, of course, is just great news,” Protasevich said.
On May 3, the Minsk Regional Court sentenced Protasevich to eight years in prison. He was found guilty of organizing mass riots, public calls for acts of terrorism, leading an extremist formation, slandering and insulting the President of Belarus and other crimes.
According to the indictment, Protasevich, NEXTA founder Stepan Putilo and overseas channel editor Yan Rudik since 2020 have been involved in a plot to seize power from the State in Belarus unconstitutionally. According to the prosecutor’s office, they published materials for destructive purposes on the NEXTA and “Belarus of the Brain” telegram channels, and also called on protest-minded citizens of Belarus to carry out terrorist attacks.
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Belarus asked to sentence Protasevich to 10 years in prison, Putilo – 20 years, Rudik – 19 years. The prosecution also noted that Protasevich complied with the terms of the pre-trial agreement, so he can expect a mitigation of sentence.
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