Updated at 13:52,22-04-2024

Anarchist Zmitser Paliyenka released in court

ANASTASIYA BOIKA, Euroradio

Anarchist Zmitser Paliyenka released in court
Zmitser Paliyenka at large / Nasta Boika, Euroradio
Minsk City Court has sentenced anarchist Zmitser Paliyenka to restriction of liberty (without imprisonment) for 3 years today, on October 25. He has been amnestied and the term he has spent in the detention center has been included in the term. The court has also sentenced him to forced treatment of chronic alcoholism. He has been released on recognition in court.

Paliyenka has been returned guilty of the violation of part 3 of article 339 of the Criminal Code (“heinous hooliganism”). According to the prosecution, Paliyenka attacked a stranger with pepper spray for a remark about smoking in the lobby of a block of flats in Hurski Street on March 13.

Zmitser Paliyenka’s final speech was in Belarusian. He spoke a lot about his anarchist views, “police willfulness” and addressed his girlfriend Anastasiya Huseva. He proposed to her during the first hearing and Huseva agreed.



Paliyenka was charged with the violation of three articles at first – 341(damage of buildings and property), 1st part of article 130 (arousing racial, religious or social hatred) and 369 (insult of a public agent).

The international human rights association Amnesty International supported Zmitser Paliyenka. He is being persecuted for his civil activities, rights defenders believe.

Paliyenka tried to cut his wrists during the first hearing when he had learnt that it would be held behind closed doors. Activists of the anarchist movement and Paliyenka’s friends tried to enter the court room which resulted in a fight with the guards. The hearing was made open and three articles were removed from Paliyenka’s case after the incident.