Viasna Human Rights Centre
Belarus · Viasna
01Overview
Quick Facts
CountryBelarus
Age / Sex38 · male
Occupation—
Arrested inMinsk, Minsk Region
Held atPenal Colony No. 17 Shklow
CategoryActivism
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
Rastslau Stefianovich is a designer and architect who was a member of the Coordination Council. He was detained during the 2020 protests and was a defendant in the 'Chat Case'. He reported severe physical abuse, including being beaten with a baton and being forced into stress positions during his arrest.
Key Facts
01 entries- 01[politzek] Ростислав — дизайнер и архитектор, член расширенного состава Координационного совета. Окончил БНТУ по специальности “Дизайн архитектурной среды”. Игрок команды по американскому футболу “Минские Зубры”. В ее составе стал серебряным призером ЧУ 2009, 2010, и 2011 годов, серебряным призером Eastern Cup, чемпионом ВЛАФ 2013, УЛАФ 2016, BSL 2016. Ростислав — автор многих проектов квартир, кофеен и других зданий в Беларуси и за границей: ЖК “Олимпик-Парк”, здания ГПО “Белэнерго”, кафе “Москва”. Со слов жены Ростислава, Кристины, он тихий и домашний, лишнее общение его немножко обязывает. Он не станет бить себя в грудь и качать права, но при этом не может пройти мимо чужой беды. Дома Ростислава ждут дочь и сын, которые часто посылают письма и рисунки в тюрьму, чтобы поддержать папу.
Native-Language SummaryBE • Original
Расціслаў Стэфановіч — дызайнер і архітэктар, сябра Каардынацыйнай рады. Ён быў затрыманы ў жніўні 2020 года і з'яўляецца фігурантам «справы чата». Пасля затрымання ён паведамляў пра жорсткія фізічныя знішчэнні, у тым ліку ўдары дубінкай і прымус да стаяння ў нязручных пазах.
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
04Timeline
Case Timeline
Arrest date
September 29, 2020
Sentence served
5y 9mo / 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: Rastslau Stefianovich (PPW case cmmkyibr). Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://politicalprisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmmkyibrk002a1vcf8mnlib0y. Original data from Viasna Human Rights Centre (https://prisoners.spring96.org/en/person/rostislav-stefanovich).
Formats reflect this case as an online database record. Always verify the original source before citing in legal filings.