Сергей Стасенко. Источник фото: BelPol
The Homiel Regional Court has handed down a verdict against Siarhei Stasenka, 65, from the village of Lahuny in the Dobrush District. According to Homiel Viasna, Stasenka was charged under five articles of the Criminal Code, including attempted terrorism, illegal handling of weapons and explosives, deliberate disabling of transport infrastructure or communication routes, treason, and the creation of or participation in an extremist formation.
According to human rights defenders, the case may be linked to attempts to disrupt railway traffic in order to counter the use of Belarusian territory and infrastructure in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The village of Lahuny is located near the railway line running from Homiel toward the Ukrainian city of Horodnia, as well as close to the airfield in Ziabrauka, which was restored by the Russian military and used during the early stages of the full-scale invasion.
“There is a high probability that Siarhei Stasenka has been subjected to repression for attempting to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression by creating obstacles to railway traffic. Part 2 of Article 289 and Part 4 of Article 295 provide for liability for actions committed by a group of persons,” the rights defenders said.
Stasenka graduated from the Homiel Railway Technical School in 1980. Most recently, he worked as an insurance agent for Belgosstrakh in the Homiel District. Previously, he served as director of Belavtomatikaservis CJSC.
The exact length of the sentence has not yet been clarified. However, the charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The circumstances of the case and the verdict are still being established.