{"id":203844,"date":"2026-09-15T19:54:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T16:54:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/203844\/"},"modified":"2026-09-15T20:45:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T17:45:53","slug":"two-civil-society-activists-sentenced-to-five-years-in-prison","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/203844\/","title":{"rendered":"Two civil society activists sentenced to five years in prison"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Siarhiej Sala\u0161 \n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Viasna)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 15, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Siarhiej Sala\u0161 and D\u017amitryj Babicki have been sentenced to five years in prison each, apparently for their alleged association with Sk\u0142ad Butelek, a center that hosted cultural and art events in Barysa\u016d, Minsk region, branded \u201cextremist\u201d by authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The judge also ordered a fine of 36,000 rubels ($12,000) for each man and the confiscation of their \u201ccriminal income.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sala\u0161 was arrested in Barysa\u016d on November 12, 2025, the day the Committee for State Security (KGB) designated Sk\u0142ad Butelek as an \u201cextremist group,\u201d naming the two men among its \u201cmembers.\u201d Babicki was arrested a month later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 2000s, Sala\u0161 was an opposition activist who ran in elections and collected ballot-access signatures for opposition candidates. He later left politics in favor of civil society work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian human rights organizations recognized both as political prisoners soon after their arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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