Russian comedian injured during arrest in Belarus – lawyer

March 19, Pozirk. Belarusian security officers broke ribs and spine as they arrested Artemiy Ostanin yesterday at the Belarusian-Russian border, the Russian standup comedian’s lawyer said.
After Belarus handed over the man to Russia, the Moscow City Court ruled to place him under arrest for two months pending trial on charges of inciting hatred for joking about Russian soldiers who attacked Ukraine, Russia’s Mash reported.
A Russian conservative group denounced the comedian’s comment about a beggar with a disability who blew himself up on a landmine, yet Ostanin denied this interpretation. The show took place four days ago in Moscow.
In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Authorities in Minsk allowed Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarus on multiple occasions and have persecuted Belarusians for antiwar positions.
Reprisals: Russian artist arrested and deported over anti-war position
- Economy, SocietyOver 5,000 EU-bound vehicles awaiting border processing in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEU preparing new sanctions package against Russia, Belarus – officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityMEP warns of hybrid threats amid balloon incursions from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja urges Australia to support Belarusian activistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka instructs border guards amid tensions with LithuaniaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityUkraine’s president: Łukašenka will pay for aiding Russia’s invasionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsBelarusian blogger denied entry to Moldova, sent to ArmeniaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsEight sentenced in Homiel for alleged association with extremist groupThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus to raise minimum wage by 18 percentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsExiled lawyer heads Coordination Council’s budget commissionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusians net sellers of foreign currency in January–OctoberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, Security
- PoliticsAustralian premier has expressed full support for Belarusian opposition – ViačorkaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsBelPol: Estonian company tricked into selling medical equipment to KGBThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsArmenia allows Belarusian dissident wanted by Minsk to leave for EUThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja urges Australia to boost support for people of BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyPrivate companies’ overdue bank debt up 19 percent since JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+



