Round-up of political persecution for August 26

August 27, BPN. New politically-motivated arrests were reported on August 26 in Belarus.

Businessman Vadzim Slivinski, 38, was arrested for posting photos from his foreign trips with a white-red-white flag in his social media accounts. The charges against him remain unknown.

Kirył Jasinki and his wife Maryja from Minsk were arrested on charges of participating in protests, organizing tea parties, and subscribing to “extremist resources.” 

Minsk resident Natalla Azarevič, 40, was arrested for participation in protests. Jaŭhien Prudnikaŭ and his wife Volha were also arrested on the same charge in Mahiloŭ. The police searched their home, where they live with their small child. 

Viciebsk activist Barys Chamajda, 74, was arrested on August 25 during the trial of journalist Taćciana Matviejeva for wearing a medallion with Pahonia coat of arms. He was released after being charged with violating the order of organizing mass events under the Administrative Offences Code. 

Administrative proceedings

A court in Hrodna fined a local company’s deputy CEO for illegal actions towards state symbols for not standing up during the anthem at the start of a soccer game.

Criminal proceedings

A criminal case for gross violations of public order was brought against Siarhiej Frančuk, a cousin of Vadzim Kabančuk, deputy commander of the Belarusian volunteer Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment fighting Russia in Ukraine. Riot police arrested Frančuk on August 9 at his parents’ place in Babrujsk, Mahiloŭ region, with the use of force. He was jailed for 15 days after the police seized his phone and laptop.  

Detention conditions

Siarhiej Cichanoŭski, husband of the opposition leader Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, sentenced to 18 years in prison, was transferred to a prison in Žodzina, Minsk region, for the next three years after a court in Minsk had ruled to toughen his detention conditions.  

Opposition activist Palina Šarenda-Panasiuk, sentenced to three years in prison and declared a political prisoner by human rights groups, was placed in a punishment cell for 20 days after her transfer to a prison in the Homiel region. 

Stanisłaŭ Paŭlinkovič, sentenced to two years in prison on politically motivated charges, has been in a punishment cell for over 20 days.

“Extremist” content check

According to the eyewitness accounts, the books of Nobel prize winner Sviatłana Aleksijevič are withdrawn from libraries across Belarus for “extremist” content examination. 

As of August 27, human rights groups identified 1,311 people imprisoned on politically motivated charges.