Viasna Human Rights Centre
Belarus · Viasna
01Overview
Quick Facts
CountryBelarus
Age / Sex57 · male
Occupation—
Arrested inMinsk, Minsk region
Held atPenal Colony No. 1 Navapolatsk
CategorySocial media
StatusConvicted
Sentence8 years
Belarus · context
1,277documented cases
393 urgent · 116 report torture
Most common grounds
Journalism
101
Legal Profession
11
Medical
2
Culture
1
Reports of Torture or Ill-treatment.
Subjected to physical abuse or severe ill-treatment in detention. Violation of international law.
Case Summary
Aljaksandr Jurczyk, a resident of Minsk, was convicted in the 'Chat Case' involving participation in a radical Telegram chat. He was charged with participating in mass riots and intentional property damage. He is serving an 8-year sentence in a high-security colony.
Key Facts
01 entries- 01[politzek] Житель Минска.
Native-Language SummaryBE • Original
Аляксандр Юрчык, жыхар Мінска, быў асуджаны па «справе чата» за ўдзел у радыкальным тэлеграм-чаце. Яго абвінавацілі ў удзеле ў масавых беспарадках і наўмысным пашкоджанні маёмасці. Ён адбывае 8 гадоў калоніі ўзмоцненага рэжыму.
02Charges
Charges
02 count- 01Participation in mass riots
- 02Intentional destruction or damage of property
Criminal Code Articles
02 articleArt. BY-293Art. BY-218
03Analysis
Predicting Vector
Surveillance vector
Surveillance vectorSocial Media Monitoring
Technology usedTelegram
04Timeline
Case Timeline
Arrest date
January 16, 2021
Sentence served
5y 5mo / 8 years
05Sources
Data Source
Source vs. PPW analysis
ViasnaCase facts, charges, dates, and status.
PPW analysisRisk, surveillance & sentence estimates — probabilistic, not the source's reporting.
View all data sources →§ Updates
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Cite this case
Political Prisoner Watch. (2026). Case file: Aljaksandr Jurczyk (PPW case cmmkyfm8). Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://politicalprisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmmkyfm8400141vcfajm7133v. Original data from Viasna Human Rights Centre (https://prisoners.spring96.org/en/person/aljaksandr-jurczyk).
Formats reflect this case as an online database record. Always verify the original source before citing in legal filings.