Vlogger Uladzimir Tsyhanovich who serves 16-year jail term to stand another trial
The 43-year-old author of the MozgON YouTube channel is being prosecuted for “persistent disobedience to the prison administration”, as per Viasna Human Rights center.
On November 30, Uladzimir Tsyhanovich will be facing trial in the Vaukavysk correctional facility where he is currently held. This new trial can extend the blogger’s sentence by another two years.
Uladzimir Tsyhanovich became a famous public figure through independent vlogging, producing videos discussing current issues along with Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Andrei Pavuk, Aliaksandr Kabanau, Siarhei Piatrukhin and other vloggers. His YouTube channel has tens of thousands of subscribers.
On 9 June 2020, authorities detained Tsyhanovich. He, along with many other activists and politicians, was charged with “organizing or participating in group actions that seriously disrupt public order,” “preparing to participate in mass riots,” and “inciting social hatred.” Minsk Region Court Judge Mikalai Dolia sentenced the vlogger to 15 years in prison.
In April 2023, Judge Tatsiana Kastsiuk punished him with another year of imprisonment for supposedly disobeying the prison administration’s rules. Currently, human rights activists assert that the Vaukavysk correction facility administration has initiated another criminal case for persistent defiance of the prison administration’s demands.
The human rights community recognizes Uladzimir Tsyhanovich as a political prisoner.
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