Round-up of arrests, sentences across Belarus

August 25, BPN. Minsk residents Volha Baruška, 35, and Stanisłaŭ Rubašeŭski, 36, have been arrested for allegedly insulting police officers online and participating in protests, respectively, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Police have also arrested Mahiloŭ resident Uładzimir Makoŭski and accused him of signing up for the opposition’s Pieramoha Plan and subscribing to “extremist” Telegram channels.

Jaŭhien Kisel has been arrested in Hrodna for participating in the 2020 post-election protests and distributing “extremist materials.”

Alaksiej Kazak, 38, has been sentenced to 14 days in jail. His family fears that he may be charged with participation in protests. Minsk resident Pavieł Hil has been jailed for 15 days for a tattoo allegedly showing a portrait of Hitler. He claimed it was Belarusian poet Janka Kupała.

Michaił Michuta, a handball coach and former European champion, has been sentenced to five years of restricted freedom without referral to an open type correctional facility for several reposts in the social network VKontakte back in June 2020, which allegedly insulted Alaksandr Łukašenka’s honor and dignity.

This type of sentence implies that people are confined to their residence during non-working hours and are required to retain or seek employment. Police can visit them anytime to make sure they comply with the terms of confinement.

Police have searched the home of musician Alaksandr Kazakievič and asked questions about his brother. On July 19, Kazakievič was sentenced to 18 months of restricted freedom without referral to a correctional facility for insulting public officials. He was released in the courtroom but on July 26 and rearrested again on the same charges. Human rights groups declared Kazakievič a political prisoner.

Adam Saŭko has been transferred from Minsk to a detention center in Viciebsk. On July 1, he was sentenced to five years in prison in connection with his role in protests. Human rights groups also consider him a political prisoner.

Viktar Ivancoŭ, accused of blocking the railway traffic, has been freed after serving out a two-year prison term.

As of August 25, human rights defenders have identified at least of 1,299 people imprisoned on politically motivated charges.

The real number of political prisoners is considerably higher because many victims are unable or unwilling to report their cases to human rights organizations.