Prominent surgeon Andrei Liubetski released
The renowned pediatric maxillofacial surgeon has fully served his six-year prison term.
It became known about the release of political prisoner Dr. Andrei Liubetski. He had been behind bars for more than five years and was released upon completion of his term.
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Andrei Liubetski was born in 1971 in Berezino. From childhood, he was fond of football, showed promise, and intended to become a student at the institute of physical education. However, three months before admission, he changed his mind and went to medical university.
After graduation, he was assigned to the 4th Children's Hospital in Minsk, where he worked until 2016 – almost 18 years. Liubetski performed unique operations for palate and facial cleft repair.
For seven years, Andrei taught a course on pediatric facial surgery at the medical institute, where he met his future wife. After the birth of his fourth child, he moved to work in private clinics.
After the events of August 2020, Andrei Liubetski did not stand aside. He became a volunteer medic at a camp near the Akrestsina detention center, where he provided assistance to people released from detention after severe beatings.
The doctor himself spent two nights in the detention center. He was detained on October 11, 2020, after a march.
In early April 2021, the ONT TV channel aired a film titled "Mankurty" about former security officials. One of the episodes was dedicated to the Liubetski family. Its authors accused his wife, Natallia, of transferring fake "secret documents" to ex-Almaz officer Ihar Makar. After two nights in the pre-trial detention center, she decided to leave the country with her children. Andrei remained in Belarus.
Liubetski was detained on May 4, 2021. His trial took place a year later under the following articles of the Criminal Code: Part 1, Article 342 (participation in actions that grossly violate public order); Part 1, Article 130 (incitement of social hatred); Article 369 (insulting a government official); Parts 1 and 2, Article 368 (insulting Lukashenka).
In May 2022, the court handed down a sentence: five years in a penal colony.
The court also ordered the man to pay 2,000 rubles as compensation for moral damages to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Mikalai Karpiankou. To serve his sentence, the doctor was sent to the Babruisk correctional colony No. 2.
In June 2024, Liubetski was transferred to a prison regime and sent to Zhodzina.
Shortly before his planned release, another year was added to his sentence. Most likely, the doctor was released from the colony for repeat offenders in Horki.