The former coach and massage therapist of the Belarusian biathlon team, Nikolai Vasilevich, was convicted twice in three months for donations. He was sentenced to a total of 9.5 years in a maximum security colony, the Viasna human rights center reports.
On June 6, Vasilevich was sentenced to six years in prison for “financing an extremist formation” (Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code) and “financing extremist activities” (Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code).
And in July, a new trial took place – this time in the case of “financing terrorist activities” (Article 290−1 of the Criminal Code). There was a break during the second trial, during which the Supreme Court of Belarus considered Vasilevich’s appeal. On September 1, the first verdict came into force, therefore, when the second one was pronounced, Nikolai was considered to have already been convicted.
On September 12, in the Pervomaisky District Court of Minsk, Vasilevich was sentenced to a total of 9.5 years of a strengthened regime and a fine of 600 basic units (22,200 Belarusian rubles – approximately $8,800).
Vasilevich was detained on October 17, 2022 and placed in custody. The Minsk resident worked at the Republican Center for Olympic Training in Athletics. At the beginning of January 2023, the KGB added him to the “list of terrorists.”
