Baranavichy Disabled Activist Sent To Colony For Cartoons

Ihar Shumilau lost his leg 10 years ago.

Former biker and activist Ihar Shumilau has been sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment in a general regime colony in Baranavichy. The political prisoner was found guilty under three articles of the Criminal Code for four drawings in Odnoklassniki. Judge Mikalai Kmita considered the case in one hour, reports the Human Rights Center "Viasna".

The reason for the criminal case was four posts on "Odnoklassniki" with satirical images of Aliaksandr Lukashenka, as well as Viktar Lukashenka and other representatives of the regime.

According to investigators, they were published at different times between May 1, 2020 and May 23, 2022. The investigation found these drawings insulting to Lukashenka and representatives of the authorities. Shumilau was also accused of slandering Lukashenka.

It is known that one of the pictures depicts Lukashenka together with the listed individuals as prisoners in a prison cell.

During the trial Shumilau fully admitted his guilt. He explained that the posts on his page appeared only after he "liked" them. He himself did not understand at the time that these drawings could be considered as an insult.

As a result, the judge sentenced Ihar Shumilau to four and a half years of general regime imprisonment, as requested by the prosecutor.

Human rights activists report that Shumilau has a third group disability - he had an accident 10 years ago and lost his leg and has a serious problem with his right arm.