The Sentence Handed Down To A Belarusian Lieutenant Colonel Who Spoke Out Against The War Has Been Announced

• 20.07.2026, 13:59

The Lukashenko supporters accused him of “treason.”

Former Belarusian military officer Anton Cheremnykh was sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of “treason” and “inciting social hostility.” The verdict, handed down back in 2024, has only now come to light, according to the human rights center “Viasna”.

Anton Cheremnykh is a lieutenant colonel and former deputy commander for ideological work of the 310th Artillery Group of the 120th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade. He has two children.

According to human rights activists, Cheremnykh’s case was heard in February 2024 in a closed-door hearing by Judge Sergei Katser. The former military officer was found guilty under Part 2 of Article 356 of the Criminal Code (treason by a person holding military status) and Part 3 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement of social hostility or discord). He was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment in a maximum-security penal colony.

In September 2024, Cheremnykh was added to the list of individuals whom the authorities consider to be involved in terrorist activities. He is currently serving his sentence at Correctional Colony No. 1 in Novopolotsk.

As a reminder, news of the lieutenant colonel’s arrest broke in March 2023. His former colleagues told “Zerkalo” that after the events of 2020, Cheremnykh had planned to leave the army, and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he made no secret of his anti-war stance.

“He didn’t hide his stance on the war. He said he didn’t want to repeat pro-Russian propaganda to the soldiers because he knew it wasn’t true,” said one of Anton’s former colleagues.

According to him, the officer also supported an alternative candidate in the 2020 election and openly argued with colleagues who held opposing views.

“After the events of 2020, he was planning to leave the army and was waiting for his contract to end,” the source claimed.