A Major Minsk Businessman Was Jailed For Politics
- 21.06.2025, 13:45
In 2008, he received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Roman Gritsel has been running a window manufacturing business for a long time. His trial took place three months ago, but his identity has only now become known. He faced up to five years in prison, writes udf.
Roman Gritsel is 48 years old. According to the Digital Intelligence Team, he is originally from the village of Razdolnoye, Primorsky Krai of Russia, but has long lived in Belarus and has Belarusian citizenship. He graduated from the Belarusian State University of Economics.
After university, he went into business. For more than ten years, since 2003, he worked as a director of the Belarusian-American GlassBel Plant. This enterprise was engaged in glass products for architecture, construction, project design, solutions for transportation and others.
For example, the technology developed at the enterprise was the basis for the creation of double-glazed windows for the glazing of the Russian navy. And in 2007 Roman received a diploma at the competition "For the best achievement in the construction field" for the fact that the plant set up the production of heated double-glazed windows.
In 2008 Roman received the award "Entrepreneur of the Year" as one of the best entrepreneurs-exporters - about 80% of the plant's products were exported, mainly to Russia and Ukraine. The same year it was also awarded to Viktor Babariko and Belgazprombank in the category "Best Bank for Entrepreneurs".
Since 2013, Roman became the director of the Fire Protection Products Plant. He manufactures fire protection structures using glass - doors, windows, partitions, stairs and others.
Before his arrest in 2024, Gritsel was the director of Glas Engineering and its branch in Russia, Sovtransmash, and also has a sole proprietorship. All business on the same theme - glazing, design and installation of structures with glass for apartments, buildings and transportation.
The man has a wife and two children - an adult daughter and a minor son. His wife is in business with him.
The date of Gritsel's detention is unknown, but the last time he wrote something in chat rooms on Telegram was July 2024. He was detained no later than fall 2024.
His trial began on March 6, 2025. He was charged with two articles - "incitement of hatred" (part 1 of article 130 of the Criminal Code) and "organization or participation in actions that grossly violate public order" (part 1 of article 342 of the Criminal Code). Roman was facing up to five years in colony, but the essence of the charges is unknown.
The businessman was awarded chemistry with a referral or colony. However, since Roman never appeared on social networks and messengers after the trial, and was in telegram "a very long time ago," it can be assumed that he was given a term in the colony.