Six years in Belarusian prison for “Learning a rhythm” with street drummers

31-year- old Alyaksey Sanchuk joined a street drummer group during mass protests after election. He also went for several rehearsals to learn drum rhythm but eventually turned out as supporter without playing. During a rehearsal Alyaksey Sanchuk together with the whole group got arrested and detained because of hanging around with them. He even got tortured.

All group was taken to police station for interrogation. Most of them got detained for a day and then released. Unfortunately, Alyaksey Sanchuk got a 15-day sentence and no release. Instead – he was judged six years in prison and got an outspoken threat on his family. Then support turned the other way around with a flash mob on social media on his behalf, saying “I was learning a rhythm.”