Prosecutor requests 12 years in prison for Lukashenka's ex-aide Ihar Brylo
The long criminal saga involving the former Minister of Agriculture is nearing its end. He was arrested back in late 2023.
Ihar Brylo — Minister of Agriculture (2022-2023) and Lukashenka's aide (2023)
As Nasha Niva learned, a verdict will be announced soon for the defendants in the infamous 'dairy case,' which began in November 2023 with the arrest of Ihar Brylo, then Lukashenka's aide for the Vitsebsk region.
Soon almost the entire family of Henadz Skitau, head of 'Babulina Krynka,' was detained, including himself and the holding's management.
The essence of the case is that the Skitaus, with Brylo's assistance, allegedly set up a system at the state-owned 'Babulina Krynka' where warehouses were artificially overstocked. This allowed them to release products at lower prices to clear stock. This genuinely good milk and other products were then shipped at dumping prices to intermediary firms, which sold the goods in Russia at the real price. The difference, accordingly, was split among the participants of the scheme.
Brylo actively cooperated with the investigation, while Skitau refused to testify. Consequently, the investigation process was greatly prolonged.
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The trial only began in September 2025, and a verdict will be delivered soon.
As Nasha Niva learned, the prosecutor requested 12 years in prison for Ihar Brylo and 13 years for Henadz Skitau.
The requested sentence for Skitau matches what the investigation threatened him with if he did not admit guilt.
READ DETAILS: 81-year-old mother of 'Babulina Krynka's' authority Skitau thrown into KGB pre-trial detention to make him finally speak
In addition to the central figures, also in the dock:
— Viktar Skitau, son of Henadz Skitau, director of the 'Minsk' branch of 'Babulina Krynka'.
— Artsiom Zubel, first deputy director of 'Babulina Krynka,' son of the former deputy head of Shchuchyn police.
— Halina Tsitsiankova, deputy director of 'Babulina Krynka,' later headed the 'Novaya Druts' farm in the Bialynichy district.
— Aliaksei Dranitsa, head of the foreign economic activity department of 'Babulina Krynka'.
— Dzianis Linnik, director of the 'Asipovichy' branch of 'Babulina Krynka,' former head of Barysau District Department of Internal Affairs.
— Siarhei Pietrazhytski, director of 'Vitsiebskmyasmalpram'.
— Uladzimir Siruts, Henadz Skitau's 'main friend,' head of several affiliated companies.
— Siarhei Kachanau, director of the Vitsebsk concern 'Meat and Dairy Products'.
— «Nikolayevich M. V.» — full namesake of Mikhail Valyantsinavich Nikolayevich, former deputy chairman of the board of 'Technobank' and deputy director of Salihorsk football club 'Shakhtyor'.
— Uladzimir Lisitsyn, founder of 'BelAgraHen Belarus'.
It is not precisely known what five other individuals did while free: A. Charniak, A. Yashchanka, H. Kirakosyan, A. Sabalkou, A. Pankou.
The defendants are charged under 12 articles of the Criminal Code:
- Article **430 Part 2** — Bribery, from 3 to 10 years of imprisonment;
- Article **426 Part 3** — Abuse of power with severe consequences, from 3 to 10 years of imprisonment;
- Article **430 Part 3** — Bribery, from 5 to 15 years of imprisonment;
- Article **209 Part 1** — Fraud, fine, public works, arrest or restriction of liberty for up to 3 years, or imprisonment for up to 3 years;
- Article **431 Part 3** — Giving a bribe, from 5 to 10 years of imprisonment;
- Article **426 Part 2** — Abuse of power, from 2 to 6 years of imprisonment;
- Article **424 Part 2** — Abuse of authority, from 2 to 6 years of imprisonment;
- Article **431 Part 1** — Giving a bribe, fine, correctional labor for up to 2 years, arrest or restriction of liberty for up to 2 years, or imprisonment for up to 5 years;
- Article **424 Part 3** — Abuse of authority, from 3 to 10 years of imprisonment;
- Article **210 Part 4** — Fraud on a particularly large scale or by an organized group, from 3 to 10 years of imprisonment with possible confiscation;
- Article **432 Part 2** — Bribery mediation, arrest or restriction of liberty for up to 5 years, or imprisonment for up to 6 years;
- Article **210 Part 3** — Large-scale fraud, from 2 to 7 years of imprisonment.