{"id":156599,"date":"2025-09-22T18:43:31","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T15:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/156599\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"some-participants-in-2020-peaceful-protests-face-more-serious-charges-after-statute-of-limitations","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/156599\/","title":{"rendered":"Some participants in 2020 peaceful protests face more serious charges after statute of limitations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September 22,<\/strong> Pozirk. <\/strong><\/em>Belarusian investigators have charged several people previously arrested on suspicion of \u201cviolent disorder\u201d during the 2020 postelection protests with a more serious offense \u2014 \u201cmass riots,\u201d which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The earlier \u201cviolent disorder\u201d charges were dropped because the five-year statute of limitations had expired since some of the protest rallies took place. However, prosecutors can still pursue cases under Article 293 of the Criminal Code, which covers \u201cmass riots.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnder Criminal Code Article 293, people face the threat of imprisonment: from five to fifteen years for organizing mass riots, and from three to eight years for participating in them,\u201d Viasna noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent updates to the official extremist list also show that some charges against individuals designated as \u201cextremists\u201d were dropped due to the statute of limitations. In Friday\u2019s update, at least five entries included such a note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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