Syarhei Parsyukevich

Syarhei Parsyukevich (, Siarhiej Parsiukievič; born 14 May 1967, in Vitebsk) is a Belarusian former businessman who was a political prisoner in 2008 following participation in a protest against a decree passed by President Alexander Lukashenko. During his 15-day detainment, he was allegedly beaten by a prison guard, who later accused him of being the attacker. After a short trial, Parsykevich was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for violence against a police officer and ordered to pay the guard Rbls 1.1 million, equal to about €325, in emotional damages. On 10 January 2008, he took part in a demonstration at October Square in Minsk along with other small business owners to protest presidential decree #706, which prohibited business owners to employ more than three close relatives. Though several thousand people attended the rally, Parsyukevich was one of 14 who faced criminal charges. He was placed in a windowless cell in Prison Number 8, which aggravated his asthma to the point of illness. By 2012, however, he had become disillusioned with the movement and stopped participating in politics. He later found out the movement was being funded by Russia, which he told Radio Svoboda in 2018 was impossible for him to support after Russia's actions in Crimea.