Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

August 25, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on August 24, including arrests and penalties linked to participation in 2020 protests.

Arrested and released

Police arrested Aleh Rudakoŭ and his wife Volha in the Połack district, Viciebsk region, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Rudakoŭ returned to Belarus in 2020 after living in Russia’s Irkutsk for 17 years. He headed a local Belarusian cultural organization there.

Minsk police arrested restaurant manager Dźmitryj Hvaj and businessman Maksim Ancip over social media posts, Naša Niva reported.

Authorities released New Life Protestant Church pastor Viačasłaŭ Hančarenka after he had served 10 days in jail for allegedly disobeying police orders, the church said in its Telegram channel. His son-in-law Illa Budaj also spent five days in jail on charges of disorderly conduct.

Authorities also released Valer Pankratovič after he had served a two-year prison term for allegedly insulting Alaksandar Łukašenka, Viasna said.

Trials

A judge in Brasłaŭ, Viciebsk region, jailed Andrej Kruhłoŭ, a Minsker, for 10 days for allegedly sharing opposition content, the Viciebsk branch of Viasna said.

Authorities have not released Michaił Łapunoŭ from Homiel after he had served a 15-day jail term, the Homiel branch of Viasna said. He may be serving another jail term. Human rights defenders say that he is the father of Mikita Załataroŭ, a legal minor arrested in 2020 and sentenced to four and a half years in prison on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Criminal proceedings

The Minsk City Court sentenced Arciom Labiedźka, the son of prominent exiled opposition politician Anatol Labiedźka, to three-and-a-half years in prison for donations to opposition initiatives, Viasna reported.

Former investigator Alaksandar Suško and his wife Alesia were given three years of restricted freedom in home confinement for participation in 2020 protests; Kaciaryna Cyŭniel, three years; Siarhiej and Taćciana Deščyc, two and a half years, Viasna reported. 

Former sports official Siarhiej Čabatar and his wife Alena were sentenced to two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement on similar charges, Tribuna reported.

A judge in Mahiloŭ sentenced businessman Uładzimir Tyčynski to two and a half years in prison for allegedly filming movements of Russian military equipment and sharing the videos with a media outlet that authorities deem extremist, mspring.media reported.

The prosecutor requested lengthy prison terms ranging from eight to ten years for four Belarusian emigrants accused of assaulting Belarusian embassy staff in London in December 2021, Viasna said. All four are tried under special proceedings that target those living abroad and evading contact with investigators. Charges against them include inciting hatred, internationally damaging property and violence against officials.

Arciom Karatkievič will go on trial in Minsk on August 29 for running an opposition Telegram channel and chatroom, Viasna reported.

Freelance cameraman Viačasłaŭ Łazaraŭ and his wife Taćciana Pyćko will go on trial on extremism-related charges in Viciebsk on September 5, Viasna said. Human rights defenders consider both political prisoners.

Other instances of persecution

Authorities transferred jailed opposition activist Palina Palina Šarenda-Panasiuk to the temporary detention center in Rečyca, Homiel region, for “investigative actions,” in a new case on charges of disobeying prison authorities, her husband Andrej Šarenda said.

Extremism list update

Authorities blacklisted Viasna as an extremist group on August 23, pro-government Telegram channels said.

As of August 25, human rights defenders identified at least 1,481 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Opposition sources estimate the number of political prisoners at around 5,000.