Update on arrests, trials, criminal proceedings

September 15, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on September 14.

Arrests and releases

Jaŭhien Merkis, a freelance journalist from Homiel, was arrested and charged with calling for sanctions and harming national security, our sources confirmed. On September 13, police searched the journalist’s apartment and the home of his father, cardiologist Alaksandr Merkis. Police also confiscated a laptop and a smartphone during the search at the apartment of the journalist’s girlfriend, Sviatłana Kaścenka.

On June 2, the police arrested Palina Pałavinka, the wife of journalist Dźmitryj Łukša accused in a politically-motivated case, the Viasna human rights group reported. She is accused of gross violations of public order and discrediting the state. The couple is now held at Detention Center No. 1 in Minsk. Łukša was arrested in March after a search in his apartment. He had worked as a freelancer for the Kazakh TV channel Khabar 24 more recently.

Minsk tour guide Aksana Mankievič was arrested for alleged participation in 2020 post-election protests. In November 2021, she had spent 15 days in jail.

Dentist Neła Saŭčanka was arrested in Vaŭkavysk for sharing posts critical of the government.

Viktar Parchimčyk was released after serving two years of restricted freedom for allegedly planting 510 screws near the office of the State Border Committee. According to Viasna, he was transferred from an open type correctional facility to a penal colony while serving his sentence.

Trials

Lawyer Michaił Makaraŭ and his wife and colleague Viktoryja Hulkova were jailed for 15 days for distributing extremist content, Viasna reported. Makaraŭ was among lawyers arrested on September 13 after the trial of anarchists. Police accused him of disclosing officials’ personal data.

Judge Valeryj Ramanoŭski at the Hrodna Regional Court sentenced journalist Dzianis Ivašyn to 13 years and 1 month in prison at a closed-door session, Viasna reported. Ivašyn also has to pay a total of 22,800 rubels (nearly $9,000) in fines and damages. The reporter, declared a political prisoner by human rights defenders, was prosecuted under criminal articles against meddling in police work and treason.

Jaŭhien Hukaŭ from Viciebsk was sentenced to 22 months in prison for insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka and former interior minister Juryj Karajeŭ in Telegram chats.

Other instances of persecution

The Prosecutor General’s Office sent to the Minsk City Court a criminal case against a certain S., accused of inciting hatred. According to prosecutors, he collected personal data and other information linked to professional activities of over 16,000 public officials, security forces employees, judges, and military officers. He allegedly posted data on over 300 judges in Telegram channels deemed extremist. The Prosecutor General’s Office also said that the defendant shared data of nine policemen with the group that administered such channels.

The Luniniec District Prosecutor’s Office forwarded to court a criminal case against a 58-year-old local resident H. accused of insulting public officials for posting online “cynical” comments about two pilots who died in a plane crash, the Prosecutor General’s Office said.

As of September 15, human rights defenders identified at least 1,337 political prisoners.