Viasna Human Rights Centre
Belarus · Viasna
01Overview
Quick Facts
CountryBelarus
Age / Sex46 · male
Occupation—
Arrested inMinsk, Belarus
Held atPenal Colony No. 22
CategoryProtest
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
Stepan Latypau is an arborist and businessman who was detained during the 2020 protests. He was accused of organizing a protest Telegram chat and creating protest symbols, alongside charges of fraud. He has reported severe torture, including being suffocated with a plastic bag, and has attempted suicide multiple times due to prison pressure.
Key Facts
01 entries- 01[politzek] Степан родился в Брестской области в семье биологов. По профессии - арборист и промышленный альпинист. До задержания Степан имел свое дело. Его предприятие "Беларбо" занималось лечением деревьев, их вырубкой в труднодоступных местах, а также борьбой с ядовитым борщевиком. Степан увлекается фридайвингом и виндсерфингом, ездой на мотоцикле. Много путешествовал по Европе. Свободно владеет английским, знает португальский и польский языки. А еще он любит ежей. "Не имеет значения, когда я вернусь, имеет значение куда. Очень глупая и детская, но такая сильная мечта. Чтобы дети смеялись, и соседи танцевали. И ежи. Чтобы никто не обижал ежей. Ведь если я не буду их защищать, то кто? ", - писал Степан из СИЗО.
Native-Language SummaryBE • Original
Сцяпан Латыпаў — арбарыст і бізнесмен, які быў затрыманы падчас пратэстаў 2020 года. Яго абвінавачвалі ў арганізацыі пратэснага Telegram-чата і стварэнні сімволікі, а таксама ў махлярстве. Ён паведамляў пра жорсткія катаванні, у тым ліку задыханне ў чорным пакеце, і некалькі разоў спрабаваў суіцыд з-за ціску адміністрацыі.
02Charges
Charges
03 count- 01Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order
- 02Resistance to an officer of internal affairs
- 03Fraud
Criminal Code Articles
03 articleArt. BY-342Art. BY-363Art. BY-209
03Analysis
Predicting Vector
Surveillance vector
Surveillance vectorSocial Media Monitoring
Technology usedTelegram
04Timeline
Case Timeline
Arrest date
September 15, 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: Scjapan Latypau (PPW case cmmkyiz1). Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://politicalprisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmmkyiz1f002k1vcfhplysa0l. Original data from Viasna Human Rights Centre (https://prisoners.spring96.org/en/person/scjapan-latypau).
Formats reflect this case as an online database record. Always verify the original source before citing in legal filings.