Update on trials, arrests, politically-motivated persecution

September 20, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on September 19.

Arrests

Police have arrested artist Hienadź Drazdoŭ on criminal charges. Pro-government Telegram channels said he had visited Ukraine, where he had posed for pictures “together with punitive battalion soldiers.” Police also accuse the artist of participation in the 2020 protests.

Trials

Human rights defender Uładzimir Cielapun from Mazyr will serve 15 days in jail for social media posts. He may also face other charges as police officers have compiled four reports under the Administrative Offences Code against him, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

A court in Mahiloŭ sentenced opposition activist Alena Lazarčyk to eight years in prison in a closed trial, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. The charges against her included insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka and participation in protests. She has an eight-year-old child.

Vasil Dzemidovič, 70, from Niasviž, will spend six years in prison and pay a fine of 1,600 rubels (about $630) for participating in protests, subscribing to opposition Telegram channels and insulting public officials. He also has to pay 32,000 rubels (over $12,600) in “moral damages,” Viasna reported.

Siarhiej Babko, 50, received two years in prison for social media posts allegedly insulting public officials, Viasna reported.

Dentist Alaksandr Durajeŭ in Hrodna went on trial for posts allegedly insulting Łukašenka and for allegedly possessing ammunition, Viasna reported.

Other instances of persecution

Łukašenka demoted over 80 former law enforcement officers deemed not loyal and accused of committing crimes, his press office reported. The list includes former servicemen “currently involved in armed conflicts in other states.” Their names have not been published yet.

Prison authorities placed Uładzimir Hundar, a defendant in the high-profile case involving outspoken critics of the Łukašenka regime, in a punishment cell for 10 days. Hundar, who has a disability, went on hunger strike in protest, the Brest branch of Viasna reported.

As of September 20, human rights defenders identified at least 1,334 political prisoners.