Political crackdown roundup: August 25

August 26, BPN. New arrests were reported on August 25.

The interior ministry’s organized crime unit GUBOPiK arrested a 31-year-old Minsk resident who was allegedly planning to fight for Ukraine. He also “took an active part” in the Minsk unrest in September 2020, said the Investigative Committee.

Siarhei Nikiсiuk, a 32-year-old Brest musician, was arrested for allegedly posting Nazi symbols on social media, and sending his ballot to “extremist channels” during the constitutional referendum on February 27. A criminal case has been opened for allegedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka, participating in an extremist formation and facilitating extremist activities, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. 

Activist and dissident Barys Chamajda, who intended to attend the trial of journalist Taćciana Matviejeva, was arrested in a district court in Viciebsk, Viasna said.

Mikałaj Mardovič, a 36-year-old employee of the Grodnozhilstroy company, was arrested for alleged participation in the 2020 protests, urging colleagues to go on strike and disseminating information about protests, Viasna reported.

Administrative proceedings

Viciebsk journalist Matviejeva was sentenced to eight days in jail. The decision was made by the regional center’s district court. Judge Uładzimir Carykaŭ ruled that a picture with a white-red-white flag on Matviejeva’s Facebook page and a line from Janka Kupała’s poem “To Be Called Human” amounted to an unauthorized picket.

A district court in Minsk banned 75-year-old Nina Bahinskaja from traveling abroad, visiting casinos and gambling. On August 8, the activist was banned from hunting, driving cars and small boats. Telecom operators are not allowed to provide her with internet, television and mobile communication services. All because she hasn’t paid a 1,600 rubels (some $630) fine for an unauthorized Freedom Day protest, Viasna reported.

Criminal proceedings

A district court in Minsk rejected Eduard Babaryka’s appeal against the extension of his detention at the KGB detention center until September 14, Viasna reported. He is the son of a former banker and presidential hopeful, Viktar Babaryka. 

The Homiel Regional Court sentenced 31-year-old Illa Holcaŭ to 18 months in prison for “inciting hatred.” He was arrested in February. In October 2021, Holcaŭ was fined 290 rubels for “disseminating extremist content” and defying police orders, according to Viasna.

Religious persecution

Police warned Dźmitryj Padłobka, a pastor of the Living Faith Church of Full Gospel Christians in Homiel, that he should either follow the law on mass events, such as baptism ceremonies, or face criminal charges. In July, the pastor was fined 640 rubels for performing baptism without an authorization, Flagshtok reported.

Torture

Viasna head Aleś Bialacki, held in a pre-trial detention facility in Minsk, has been locked up in a “special corridor” – a basement with poor conditions. He endures heavy restrictions on correspondence. He and other Viasna leaders, Valancin Stefanovič and Uładzimir Łabkovič, were arrested on July 14, 2021. The investigation into the case has been extended until October 14, the human rights watchdog said.

Release

Illa Silankoŭ has been freed after serving a sentence of 18 months of restricted freedom for insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka. He was accused of scattering at least 17 leaflets with the picture of Łukašenka and a message humiliating his “honor and dignity,” Viasna reported.

Human rights groups identified 1,307 political prisoners in Belarus in the morning of August 26 (+8 in the past 24 hours).