Court in Minsk sentenced comedian Komissarenko to six years in absentia

Minsk City Court sentenced in absentia standup comic Vyacheslav Komissarenko, accused of insulting and slandering against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, to imprisonment for six years. This was reported by the Belarusian agency BelTA on December 30.

"On the totality of crimes by partial addition of punishments Minsk City Court sentenced Vyacheslav Komissarenko to imprisonment for a term of six years with serving in a penal colony under general regime," reads the publication.

Standup comic was found guilty under Art. 130 part. 1 ("Incitement of racial, national, religious or other social enmity or discord"), Art. 367 part. 2 ("Slander against the President of the Republic of Belarus"), Art. 368 part. 1 ("Insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus") of the Criminal Code of Belarus.

The case was considered in the order of special proceedings.

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Earlier, December 24, it became known that Minsk City Court began a trial in absentia against Komissarenka for insulting Lukashenka.