According to the prosecution, Gerasimovich desecrated the national flag by pulling the flag by its cloth while intoxicated and throwing it to the ground. After that, the flag was damaged and its staff was destroyed. The property damage to the organization on whose building the flag hung was estimated at 89 rubles - that is how much the accused must pay in compensation.
The man admitted his guilt in full and said that he pulled the flag by accident so as not to fall. He had no intention of desecrating the state symbol of Belarus.
The court considered that if the accused did not admit to intentionally desecrating the flag, he did not fully understand his responsibility and did not repent, so he decided to impose a punishment associated with imprisonment. Although the expert concluded that the accused suffers from chronic alcoholism and needs compulsory treatment.
On 03.03.2023, the appeal was considered and the verdict came into force.
According to human rights activists , he was released in the fall of 2024, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.
