Russian woman Sofya Sapega may be pardoned in Belarus before the end of the year

Citizen of the Russian Federation Sofya Sapega, sentenced in Belarus to six years for administering an opposition Telegram channel, may receive a pardon before the end of the year. This was announced by lawyer Anton Gashinsky, noting that the administration of the colony had given a positive conclusion to Sapieha’s petition for pardon.

Formerly RBC informedthat he received the text of a letter from a Russian woman to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko with a corresponding request. In the letter, Sapieha said that “youth and stupidity, as well as an unstable mental and physical state,” she “prompted her to commit crimes.” She wrote that she “fell under the influence of a destructive group of people,” but during her time in custody she realized all her mistakes. Sapieha also recalled that in order to “minimize the socially dangerous consequences” of her actions, she went on air on Belarusian television and warned Belarusians against committing illegal actions, and also apologized.

“Today I understand that I was unfair, and looked at things from only one side,” Sapieha also said, noting that she intends to pay compensation to the victims in her case, “be useful to society” and only wants to be free with her family .

“From the bottom of my heart I ask you to show mercy to me and believe in my correction,” she addressed Lukashenka.

Sapieha was detained in Minsk after the forced landing of a plane flying from Greece to the Baltic States, along with the former editor of the Belarusian opposition telegram channels Roman Protasevich. After his arrest, he pleaded guilty, took part in the filming of stories for local TV channels, criticized the opposition and testified against the opposition. In early May, it became known that Protasevich got married and stated that his close relationship with Sapieha had allegedly ended even before his arrest in Belarus. Relatives of Sapieha, who by that time had received a court verdict, called his behavior “disgusting”.

In early June, Lukashenka announced that he allowed Sapieha to be extradited to Russia: “It’s a pity for the girl <...> Let her serve time there. Or they do whatever they want.

In early September, Belarus announced its intention to amnesty about 8,000 prisoners on the eve of National Unity Day, which is celebrated on September 17.