Political activist fined, sentenced to lengthy prison term

June 17, BPN. Judge Juryj Žytko of the Pružany District Court, Brest region, has sentenced local activist Alena Hnaŭk, 65, to three and a half years in prison and a fine of 3,200 rubles (about $1,250), the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Hnaŭk was found guilty of defaming Alaksandr Łukašenka and discrediting the Republic of Belarus in her 2021 Facebook and Instagram posts about the illegal migrant crisis in Belarus.

Hnaŭk is also a defendant in the so-called “round dance case” related to anti-government protests in Brest following the 2020 presidential election. In terms of the number of people convicted, this case remains the largest in the history of Belarus.

In 2021, Hnaŭk was sentenced to two years of restricted freedom for gross violations of public order. In January 2022, she served 15 days in jail and was not released due to new criminal charges. Human rights defenders declared Hnaŭk a political prisoner.