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| Comedian gets prison time for insulting Belarusian president | Comedian gets prison time for insulting Belarusian president |
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| A court also found Slava Komissarenko guilty of inciting religious, racial, and national hatred | A court also found Slava Komissarenko guilty of inciting religious, racial, and national hatred |
| A court in Belarus has sentenced stand-up comedian Slava Komissarenko to six years in prison in absentia for insulting President Alexander Lukashenko and other offenses. | A court in Belarus has sentenced stand-up comedian Slava Komissarenko to six years in prison in absentia for insulting President Alexander Lukashenko and other offenses. |
| Komissarenko, who is currently in the Czech Republic, was convicted of insulting and slandering the Belarusian head of state, and inciting racial, national, religious, or other social hatred or discord, the state-run BelTA news agency reported on Monday. | Komissarenko, who is currently in the Czech Republic, was convicted of insulting and slandering the Belarusian head of state, and inciting racial, national, religious, or other social hatred or discord, the state-run BelTA news agency reported on Monday. |
| If he returns to Belarus, the comedian will serve a six-year sentence at a medium-security penal colony. The ruling can be appealed. | If he returns to Belarus, the comedian will serve a six-year sentence at a medium-security penal colony. The ruling can be appealed. |
| During his shows in recent years, Komissarenko repeatedly joked about Lukashenko and impersonated the president, portraying him a hapless and needy person. | During his shows in recent years, Komissarenko repeatedly joked about Lukashenko and impersonated the president, portraying him a hapless and needy person. |
| Komissarenko turned to political humor after a wave of anti-government protests in Belarus in 2020. The comedian repeatedly commented on the unrest in his stand-up gigs, supporting the opposition when it refused to recognize the results of the election, in which Lukashenko won a sixth term in office. | |
| Legal proceedings against the performer were launched in August. | Legal proceedings against the performer were launched in August. |
| “You might be aware that I am wanted by the Belarusian KGB [security agency]. Judging by the fact that you can always find me and they cannot, Lukashenko does not indulge them with mobile internet,” he told the audience during a gig that same month. | “You might be aware that I am wanted by the Belarusian KGB [security agency]. Judging by the fact that you can always find me and they cannot, Lukashenko does not indulge them with mobile internet,” he told the audience during a gig that same month. |
| Komissarenko made a name for himself on Russian TV and previously moved to Moscow. In 2021, after his performances were banned in Belarus, he obtained a Russian passport. | Komissarenko made a name for himself on Russian TV and previously moved to Moscow. In 2021, after his performances were banned in Belarus, he obtained a Russian passport. |
| However, he left Russia in early 2022, citing persecution by the Belarusian security services. At the time, the KGB described the comedian’s claims as “complete nonsense.” | However, he left Russia in early 2022, citing persecution by the Belarusian security services. At the time, the KGB described the comedian’s claims as “complete nonsense.” |
| Since then, the 39-year-old has resided in Ukraine, Türkiye, Poland, and the Czech Republic. He has also been increasingly critical of Russia since the escalation of the conflict with Ukraine in February 2022. | Since then, the 39-year-old has resided in Ukraine, Türkiye, Poland, and the Czech Republic. He has also been increasingly critical of Russia since the escalation of the conflict with Ukraine in February 2022. |