Viasna Human Rights Centre
Belarus · Viasna
01Overview
Quick Facts
CountryBelarus
Age / Sex25 · male
Occupation—
Arrested inHrodna, Hrodna region
Held atPrison No. 4
CategoryProtest
StatusConvicted
Sentence5 years
Belarus · context
1,277documented cases
393 urgent · 116 report torture
Most common grounds
Journalism
101
Legal Profession
11
Medical
2
Culture
1
Case Summary
Maksim Varnel is a former contract sniper in the Belarusian military from Hrodna. He was arrested in July 2023 and convicted of organizing mass disorder during the protests. He is currently serving his sentence in Prison No. 4 and is listed as a terrorist and extremist.
Native-Language SummaryBE • Original
Максім Варнель — былы кантрактны снайпер беларускіх войскаў з Гродна. Ён быў арыштаваны ў ліпені 2023 года і асуджаны за арганізацыю масавых беспарадкаў падчас пратэстаў. Зараз ён адбывае тэрмін у турме № 4 і знаходзіцца ў спісах тэрарыстаў і экстрэмістаў.
02Charges
Charges
01 count- 01Organization of mass disorder
Criminal Code Articles
01 articleArt. BY-293
03Analysis
Predicting Vector
Surveillance vector
Surveillance vectorUnknown
04Timeline
Case Timeline
Arrest date
July 8, 2023
Sentence served
2y 11mo / 5 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: Maksim Varnel (PPW case cmmjn817). Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://politicalprisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmmjn817100dr1vyapqmj7sk1. Original data from Viasna Human Rights Centre (https://prisoners.spring96.org/en/person/maksim-varnel).
Formats reflect this case as an online database record. Always verify the original source before citing in legal filings.