OREANDA-NEWS  The Minsk City Court has begun examining in absentia the criminal case against the popular Belarusian stand-up comedian Vyacheslav Komissarenko. This is reported on the website of the Supreme Court of Belarus.

It is reported that the stand-up artist has been charged under three articles of the Criminal Code of Belarus. Komissarenko is suspected of inciting racial, national, religious or other social hatred or discord, slandering the President of Belarus, as well as insulting the head of the republic.

In August, it was reported that the Investigative Committee of Belarus had launched an investigation in absentia against Komissarenko. It was noted that the comedian could face up to six years in prison.

In January 2022, the stand-up artist stated that the Belarusian KGB was looking for him because of jokes about the country's president Alexander Lukashenko. After that, it became known that he had moved to Poland.