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Statute · Belarus

Article 369 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus

insulting a representative of authority

The Detained has documented 145 cases in Belarus in which this article was charged. 90 ended in a prison sentence, with a median of 4.5 years and the longest at 20 years. Torture or ill-treatment was reported in 9 of them.

Documented cases
145
Prison sentences
90
Median sentence
4.5 years
Longest sentence
20 years
Torture reported
9

Article 369 punishes public insult of a representative of authority in connection with the performance of official duties with up to three years of imprisonment or restriction of freedom. "Representative of authority" covers police officers, judges, prosecutors, investigators, election officials and other state employees, and the insult can be a single word.

The article is the companion to Article 368 and is charged for the same comments: a remark about a police officer under a video of a detention, a name attached to an official in a chat, a comment on a judge after a verdict. Because it applies to any official rather than only the President, it is the more frequently added count, and the documented cases show it combined with 130 and 368 in the majority of comment prosecutions. Prosecutions are opened years after the comment as devices are searched.

Arrests by year

2020
3
2021
11
2022
29
2023
39
2024
25
2025
15
n/a23 · arrest date not published

Charged together with

All documented cases · 145

NameArrestedSentencePlace of arrest
Ihar Kaluyeu10 Aug 2025no sentence recorded
Aleh Kineu9 Jul 2025no sentence recorded
Viachaslau Kruk2 Jun 2025no sentence recorded
Mikalai Liutskevich15 May 2025no sentence recorded
Natallia Vasilyeva9 May 2025no sentence recorded
Viaczaslau Vanslavavich1 May 2025no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk region
Stanislau Silich30 Apr 2025no sentence recorded
Volha Kalpakova24 Apr 20252 years 6 months
Arciom Baciszczau14 Apr 20252 yearsVitebsk, Vitebsk region
Siarhei Sauchkou4 Mar 2025no sentence recorded
Albert Shyla27 Feb 2025no sentence recorded
Volha Barunova1 Feb 20253 yearsMaladzyechna, Minsk region
Uladzimir Dzharayeu14 Jan 2025no sentence recorded
Andrei Kreidzich11 Jan 20253 years 6 months
Tsimafei Karatkevich2 Jan 2025no sentence recorded
Andrei Lahvinenka17 Dec 20242 years
Vasil Verameiczyk14 Nov 202413 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Akasana Valkovič13 Nov 20243 yearsMinsk region, Belarus
Volha Chukarava11 Nov 20244 years
Valery Zhukau11 Nov 2024no sentence recorded
Uladzimir Makhnach29 Oct 20244 years 6 months
Raman Kancavy16 Oct 20244 yearsVitebsk, Vitebsk region
Arkadz Kaichurenka1 Oct 20245 yearsBelarus
Vadzim Naucenja27 Sept 20243 yearsBrest, Brest region
Natallja Mikulicz11 Sept 2024no sentence recordedMinsk region
Aljaksandr Szaipak1 Aug 20242 yearsGrodno, Grodno region
Zhanna Auramczyk1 Jul 20242 yearsSalihorsk, Belarus
Uladzimir Ivaszkevicz11 Jun 20242 yearsMinsk, Minsk
Andrei Astapenka9 Jun 2024no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk Region
Arciom Licevich9 Jun 2024no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk Region
Andrei Filin28 May 20245 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Aliaksandr Sudnikovich27 May 2024no sentence recorded
Dzmitry Alkhavik12 Apr 2024no sentence recordedMinsk, Belarus
Liliya Kastsenich9 Apr 20243 years
Pavel Kazintsau9 Apr 2024no sentence recorded
Andrei Sitnikau2 Apr 20244 years
Andrei Mireiczyk9 Mar 20247 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Viktoryja Damastroj23 Jan 20244 yearsBelarus
Radzivon Kascinec15 Jan 20243 yearsBelarus
Aljaksei Ihnacenka11 Jan 20242 yearsVaukalysk, Hrodna region
Uladzimir Lisica19 Dec 20233 yearsLioznieny district, Vitebsk region
Hanna Strazhevicz18 Dec 20234 yearsSalihorsk, Mogilev Region
Zmitser Shalak8 Dec 20233 years 6 months
Viktar Sauczyc7 Dec 20236 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Vital Kanurkin29 Nov 2023no sentence recorded
Uladzislau Navazhantsau22 Oct 2023no sentence recorded
Veranika Kazak12 Oct 20234 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Siarhei Zaitsau9 Oct 20235 years
Aliaksandr Piskunou8 Oct 2023no sentence recorded
Andrei Burdzenja20 Sept 20234 yearsunknown, Belarus
Pavel Lukaszevicz20 Sept 20234 yearsLida, Grodno region
Uladzimir Marcinkevicz15 Sept 20233 yearsMinsk, Minsk Region
Jauhen Kladou30 Aug 20231 yearBaranavichy, Brest Region
Aljaksandr Piuczuk16 Aug 20233 yearsHrodna, Hrodna Region
Vitold Szalkevicz9 Aug 2023no sentence recordedPoraza, Grodno region
Anton Shibut7 Jul 20235 years
Aljaksandr Paliuka27 Jun 20237 yearsLuninets, Brest region
Sjarhei Hunja16 Jun 20237 yearsMazyr, Gomel region
Artur Holubeu11 Jun 20234 yearsMinsk, Belarus
Yauhen Peljakhaty1 Jun 2023no sentence recordedBrest, Brest region
Barys Vitko25 May 20237 yearsLyakhavichy, Brest region
Jauhen Cikhanau19 May 20235 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Aljaksandr Baravik15 May 20231 yearGrodno, Grodno region
Nadzieja Lapcionak11 May 20236 yearsMinsk, Minsk Region
Aleh Yermakovich11 May 2023no sentence recorded
Jahor Zakharczuk9 May 2023no sentence recordedBelarus
Kiryl Kroszkin1 May 20239 yearsBelarus
Stiapan Zadoika18 Apr 20235 yearsGrodno, Grodno region
Siarhei Safronau18 Apr 2023no sentence recordedZhodzina, Minsk region
Aljaksei Kavaliou30 Mar 20237 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Aljaksandr Szarabeika10 Mar 20236 yearsHlybokaye, Belarus
Dzjanis Cybulski9 Mar 20235 yearsMinsk
Ivan Puzdrou8 Mar 2023no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk Region
Ihar Shumilau23 Feb 20234 years 6 months
Aljaksandra Kasko9 Feb 202310 yearsHrodna, Hrodna region
Maksim Mnacakanau24 Jan 20237 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Dzmitry Zahalavets20 Jan 20233 years 6 months
Andrei Krauczuk14 Jan 20236 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Maksim Dzhumaniyazau9 Jan 2023no sentence recorded
Aljaksei Kamarouski23 Dec 20224 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Mikalai Karol28 Nov 20224 years
Pavel Niadzelin15 Nov 20223 years 6 months
Leanid Kozyr9 Sept 2022no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk Region
Ihar Papou5 Sept 2022no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk region
Valiantsin Dubroushchyk2 Sept 2022no sentence recorded
Andrei Caljuk16 Aug 2022no sentence recordedBrest, Belarus
Andrei Bykau15 Aug 20225 yearsGrodno, Grodno region
Aljaksandr Sumar27 Jul 20229 yearsLuninets, Brest Region
Andrei Krasnik20 Jul 20223 yearsLida, Grodno region
Valery Viskirski27 Jun 20225 years
Vasil Dzemidovich16 Jun 20227 yearsNiasvizh, Minsk region
Yauhen Buzhynski9 Jun 20226 yearsSmorgon, Grodno region
Mikhail Tarasevicz10 May 20226 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Siarhei Nikicin1 May 20226 yearsBrest, Brest region
Pavel Abukhovicz22 Apr 2022no sentence recordedGrodno, Grodno region
Edvard Vilczeuski19 Apr 20229 yearsLida, Grodno region
Sjarhei Njalepka15 Mar 20229 yearsHrodna, Belarus
Aljaksandr Franckevicz15 Mar 20224 yearsGrodno, Grodno region
Siarhei Hrybovich13 Mar 20224 years 6 months
Dzmitryi Ivanchanka11 Mar 2022no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk region
Siarhei Zakharanka10 Mar 20224 yearsHomel, Homel region
Mikhail Laban17 Feb 20224 yearsг. Новополоцк
Pavel Bjaljucin5 Feb 2022no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk region
Aleh Kekukh27 Jan 2022no sentence recorded
Aljaksei Maeuski17 Jan 2022no sentence recordedGrodno, Grodno Region
Aleh Kanavalau10 Jan 20225 yearsHomel, Homel region
Ihar Khrystaforau9 Jan 20226 yearsMinsk region, Belarus
Aliaksei Reznikau3 Jan 20224 years 6 months
Yury Staneuski1 Dec 20217 yearsGrodno, Grodno region
Aljaksei Mandzik8 Nov 20217 yearsBelarus
Ihar Karpicki10 Oct 20217 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Ruslan Kuzmich7 Oct 20213 years 6 months
Siarhei Rabcaŭ30 Sept 20216 yearsHrodna, Belarus
Pavel Belaholau29 Sept 20213 yearsMahilyow, Mahilyow Region
Pavel Bjalenik29 Sept 2021no sentence recordedGrodno, Grodno region
Vital Astreika21 Sept 2021no sentence recorded
Yuryi Prakharenka7 Jul 2021no sentence recordedHomel, Homel Region
Aljaksei Kudasau1 Jul 202111 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Andrei Ljubecki4 May 20215 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Uladzimir Hundar30 Dec 202020 yearsBaranavichy, Brest region
Yauhen Yushkevich24 Nov 202011 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Yury Ulasau6 Aug 20206 yearsHomel, Homel region
Uladzimir Marozau Mikhailavichdate unknown9 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Ihar Mezindate unknownno sentence recordedZhlobin, Homel region
Dzmitryi Hracžoudate unknownno sentence recordedBabruysk, Mahilyow region
Anatol Kireičykdate unknown3 yearsKhoiniki, Gomel region, Belarus
Aljaksandr Syrycadate unknownno sentence recordedBaranavichy, Brest region
Mikhail Horbaczdate unknownno sentence recordedMinsk, Belarus
Anton Dzianieikadate unknown5 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Neli Alfioravadate unknownno sentence recordedPolotsk, Vitebsk region
Aljaksandr Cjupodate unknownno sentence recordedPinsk, Brest region
Vasil Krauczukdate unknown2 yearsPinsk, Brest region
Ivan Padlipencaudate unknown3 yearsMstislavl, Homyel region
Yauhen Dzemyanieudate unknown3 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Vital Kaliadadate unknownno sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk Region
Aljaksandr Peleszdate unknownno sentence recordedBabruysk, Mahilyow region
Mikhail Lazkodate unknownno sentence recordedMinsk, Belarus
Natallia Belakurskayadate unknown1 year
Uladzimir Baslykdate unknownno sentence recorded
Aliaksandr Bliznetsdate unknownno sentence recorded
Viktar Vasilyevich Barketdate unknownno sentence recordedVawkavysk, Hrodna region
Illja Karpaudate unknownno sentence recordedHomel, Homel region
Ljudmila Prakapenjadate unknownno sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk region
Illja Krauczeuskidate unknown8 yearsHrodna, Hrodna region
Siarhei Belydate unknownno sentence recorded

Questions

Who is a "representative of authority"?
Any state official exercising public functions: police, judges, prosecutors, election commission members and others. Most documented cases concern comments about police officers.
Is the sentence served in prison?
The article allows restriction of freedom as well as imprisonment. In practice it is usually one count among several, and the aggregate sentence is a colony term.

How to write to a political prisoner in Belarus

Browse all cases in Belarus

How we define a political prisoner

Other statutes in Belarus

Counts are of published records in The Detained’s database for Belarus that carry this article, matched after normalizing how sources write it, as of 5 Nov 2026. They are a documented minimum: cases not yet published or not yet linked to the article are not counted. Each row links to the case record and its sources.