Round-up of political persecution for August 31

September 1, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were reported in Belarus on August 31.

 Arrests 

Lawyer Julija Jurhilevič has been arrested in Hrodna and had her home searched, a local Telegram channel reported. The reasons for her arrest remain unknown. Jurhilevič represented prominent opposition activists, including Aleś Puškin, Arciom Bajarski, and Ihar Bancer. On February 23, she was disbarred for allegedly “systematically violating the law.”

Police also arrested Pavieł Mažejka, journalist and head of the Hrodna-based urban civil society organization, Centr Haradskoha Žyćcia, which was shut down in May 2022.

In Kobryn, Brest region, police arrested people for alleged participation in protests, including local resident Alaksandr (last name unknown) and Jaŭhien Papoŭ. The latter’s home was searched and his equipment and money confiscated, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. 

Trials

 Maryna Bažynskaja, a secretary at a newspaper of the Belarusian Steel Works in Žłobin, Homiel region, and her colleague, sociologist Dźmitryj Arciomenka, both arrested at their workplaces, have been tried under the Administrative Offences Code. Bažynskaja was fined 640 rubels (about $250), and Arciomenka was jailed for 12 days. Further details of the case remain unknown.

Minsk tour guide and blogger Sviatlana Hryškievič has been given 12 days in jail on charges of “disorderly conduct.” Pro-government Telegram channels published a video where she admits to making “inappropriate remarks about Alaksandr Łukašenka.” 

Criminal trials 

Doctor Jaŭhien Bužynski has been sentenced to 8 years in prison on charges of bribery and inciting social hatred online. According to Viasna, he was arrested on June 10 in Smarhoń, Hrodna region. Human rights defenders do not know any details of the case.

The Hrodna Regional Court is hearing a case against Ryhor Hryh, 51, arrested in September 2021 for online comments about the deadly shootout between KGB officer Dźmitryj Fiedasiuk and IT professional Andrej Zielcer. Hryh is charged with insulting Łukašenka and calling for sanctions.

On September 5, the Minsk Regional Court is expected to announce a verdict in the case against the Belarusian-born US lawyer Juryj Ziankovič, political scientist Alaksandr Fiaduta, and Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) chair Ryhor Kastusioŭ, accused of conspiracy to seize state power in an unconstitutional way. They may face up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

Michaił Chamicevič, Mikałaj Karabko, Viačasłaŭ Daškievič, and Taćciiana Zajac charged with interfering with the constitutional referendum, will go on trial on September 13 in Minsk. Viasna and other human rights groups declared them political prisoners. 

Political prisoners under pressure 

Anarchist activist Dźmitryj Duboŭski, sentenced to 18 years in prison, has not returned to the penal colony after serving 30 days in a punishment cell. According to Viasna sources, he might have been transferred to the penal colony’s internal prison.

Anarchist leader Mikałaj Dziadok, currently serving a five-year term in prison, was placed in a punishment cell on his birthday, August 23, for allegedly breaking prison rules.

Vadzim Chižniakoŭ from Hrodna, sentenced to two and a half years in prison for throwing an “unidentified object” at a policeman during a protest rally in 2020, has been placed in a cell-type facility for six months, Dissidentby human rights initiative reported.