Pro-democracy activist Šarenda-Panasiuk sentenced to one more year in prison

October 15, Pozirk. The Rečyca District Court in the Homiel region has sentenced Palina Šarenda-Panasiuk to a year and a day behind bars, finding her guilty of malicious disobedience to prison authorities, her husband said on Facebook.

This is the third time the jailed activist has been found guilty of disobedience.

“There was only one day left from the last sentence . . . But this sounds like a death warrant, because Palina physically won’t be able to survive the fourth circle of hell,” he said.

The sentence was handed down by Judge Stanisłaŭ Ivaniucienka sanctioned by the European Union. Last year, he also added one year to the prisoner’s sentence.

Three years ago, the activist was given two years in prison after a judge found her guilty of violence against a police officer and insulting officials. She subsequently received three additional one-year terms for allegedly disobeying prison administration. Her added sentences are already longer than the original one.

European diplomats traveled to Rečyca yesterday to support the imprisoned activist.

Šarenda-Panasiuk’s detention is unfair and the charges brought against her are unjust and politically motivated, the German embassy said on Facebook.

The fact that the mother of two minor children has to stand trial on the Mother’s Day, observed in the country on October 14, demonstrates the ruthlessness of the Belarusian regime toward dissidents, it said.

The German Federal Government demands freedom for all political prisoners in Belarus, it added.

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European diplomats travel to Rečyca to support jailed activist

October 14, Pozirk. European diplomats gathered outside the Rečyca District Court building in the Homiel region to show solidarity with Palina Šarenda-Panasiuk. Šarenda-Panasiuk's detention is unfair and the charges brought against her are unjust and politically motivated, the German embassy …

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