One family's life was turned upside down in November 2020. Two of their members, young men Sergei Shabunya and his wife's brother Pavel Fedukevich, were detained after trying to block (short-circuit) railroad tracks with a metal cable.
In fact, this is an administrative offense (Article 18.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses), which Sergei and Pavel did not deny attempting to commit. During the investigation and trial, which lasted a total of six months. The defenders insisted on the absence of corpus delicti of a criminal offense, while witnesses (competent employees of the Bel Railway) said that the actions of the men were not dangerous. However, they were convicted under part 1 of article 14, part 1 of article 309 of the Criminal Code.
The relatives hoped to the last that they would be sentenced to serve their time in “chemistry,” but it turned out otherwise. The verdict shocked all present — 1.9 years in the general regime penal colony. Sergei and Pavel were punished for the act committed “on grounds of political enmity, (…) as well as for opposing the existing constitutional order and the existing political system” — quote from the verdict.
In fact, the motive of political hatred, along with the commission of the crime by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, was recognized by the court as an aggravating circumstance.
Two political prisoners in one family is not only a constant stress for all, but also a considerable amount of money for transfers and remittances to “otvarika. This money is sent by relatives: Sergei is married and has a daughter growing up in the family. Pavel is not married, and his parents could have taken care of him, but once again everything went wrong. As the saying goes, trouble comes in handy: while Pavel was in pre-trial detention, his mother died. The number of loved ones to take care of Sergei and Pavel became smaller.
How much is needed?
2420€ — Groceries, medical and quarantine transfers in the colony, money transfers for “otvarika”, visits, payment for two loans, the impound lot where the seized car was from November 2020 to August 2021, registration of necessary notarial, legal documents and other expenses.