Businessman, Political Prisoner Aliaksandr Vasilevich To Be Tried Behind Closed Doors

From the moment of detention to trial, he has spent 514 days behind bars.

The trial in the case of political prisoner Aliaksandr Vasilevich is closed “in the interests of ensuring the protection of state secrets and other secrets protected by law,” Viasna reports.

According to Judge Maryna Fiodarava, the consideration of the criminal case will touch upon the financial and economic activities of other business entities indicated in the charge.

Vasilevich is accused under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code. From the moment of detention to trial, Aliaksandr has spent 514 days behind bars: he was detained on August 28, 2020. His case is being considered in the court of the Savetski district of Minsk.

Aliaksandr Vasilevich is a businessman, co-founder of the online publications kyky.org and The Village-Belarus, owner of the Vondel/Hepta agency and the Ў Gallery space. In the summer of 2020, he was detained twice. The first time was when he came to the KGB to file a petition to change the measure of restraint for Viktar Babaryka. Then the trip to the official institution ended in court, Vasilevich was given 14 days for allegedly “actively participating in an unauthorized rally” and shouting: “Free Babaryka!”

Aliaksandr did not agree with the protocol, served an administrative arrest in a detention center, was released and was again detained on August 28, 2020 by representatives of the Financial Investigation Department of the State Control Committee. Searches were carried out in his apartment, office and the companies he managed.

On September 4, Vasilevich was charged. Vasilevich's wife Nadzeya Zeliankova is also a suspect in the criminal case. While Aliaksandr was in custody, on December 2, 2020, their daughter Urshulya was born.

From behind bars, he wrote a book of fairy tales for his daughter about himself, the penguin and the prison. The wife published an electronic version of this book for free distribution. In 2021, Vasilevich became one of the winners of the Franciszek Olechnowicz Prize for works based on the author's personal prison experience.