Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office: 2 years and 6 months of restriction of freedom for an offensive comment

The Prosecutor's Office of the Vitebsk region supported the state prosecution in the court of the Zheleznodorozhny district of Vitebsk city in a criminal case against a 36-year-old resident of Vitebsk city, citizen Zh., who was accused of publicly insulting a representative of authority in connection with the performance of his official duties.

As established, on 12.08.2020, Zh., intentionally, with the aim of degrading the honor and dignity of a representative of authority, using his mobile phone in one of the public messenger groups, posted an offensive comment addressed to the head of the administration of the Oktyabrsky district of Vitebsk city, in connection with the performance of his official duties.

Taking into account the proposal of the state prosecutor and the evidence examined by the court, the court of the Zheleznodorozhny district of Vitebsk city rendered a guilty verdict.

Based on Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, citizen Zh. was sentenced to two years and six months of restriction of liberty with direction to an open-type correctional institution.

At the same time, the court applied special confiscation of the mobile phone in accordance with Part 1 of Art. 46-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

The verdict has not entered into legal force and may be appealed or protested in appellate order.

Prosecutor of the Department for
supervision of legality of
criminal case judgments
of the regional prosecutor's office
Alexey Bizunov