Фото: Reform.by
A lecturer at one of Minsk’s universities has been sentenced to two years in prison and fined 300 base units (12,600 roubles) for publishing articles on Wikipedia. The 37-year-old man was found guilty of discrediting Belarus under Article 369-1 of the Criminal Code.
According to the prosecution, from 2020 to 2025, the man “posted 25 text entries on the online resource ‘VikipedyYa’ that contained deliberately false information, including about historical facts and state symbols of the Republic of Belarus, the presidential elections and national referendums, the activities of state authorities and paramilitary organisations, and the legal status of citizens,” the Minsk Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.
The prosecution argued that by doing so, he discredited Belarus and caused “significant harm to state and public interests.”
It was reported that the man fully admitted his guilt during the trial.
The verdict has not yet entered into legal force and may be appealed.