Update on trials, arrests, detention conditions

September 23, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on September 22.

Several arrests, one release

Police arrested protestant pastor Antoni Bokun at his church in Minsk, Chryścijanskaja Vizija reported.

Writer Dźmitryj Jurtajeŭ, who works as a teacher at a private school in Minsk, is under arrest on criminal charges for participating in protests, pro-government Telegram channels reported.

Arrested IT specialists Alaksiej Kavalčuk and Mikita Karpienka face charges of participating in protests and subscribing to opposition Telegram channels, respectively, according to pro-government Telegram channels.

Minsk police arrested railway enthusiast Arciom Slizki. In the Hrodna region, police arrested at least five people in Lida and Vaŭkavysk for social media posts, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Authorities released Minsk artist Andrej Busieł after 13 days in custody.

Trials

Human rights defender Anastasja Łojka is to serve another 15-day jail term for alleged disorderly conduct, Viasna reported.

A court in Minsk jailed Uładzisłaŭ Białoŭ for 15 days for social media posts, pro-government Telegram channels said.

Jaŭhien Visłavuch from Mazyr, Homiel region, was ordered to pay a fine and spend three and a half years in prison for online comments on the 2021 shootout involving an IT engineer and KGB officers, known as the “Zielcer case,” said Viasna. Human rights groups declared him a political prisoner.

A court in Minsk sentenced Paviel Łaryn, a father of four, to 18 months in prison for online comments allegedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka and officials, Viasna reported.

An appeal court reduced by three months the five-year sentence for Pavieł Kučynski, convicted on politically-motivated charges. Kučynski has stage 4 cancer, according to Viasna.

Detention conditions

Prison authorities placed prominent opposition politician Mikałaj Statkievič in a punishment cell again, his wife Maryna Adamovič wrote on Facebook. Statkievič is serving a 14-year prison term on politically-motivated charges.

Content branded extremist

Authorities branded “extremist” the content of a Telegram channel and chat posting information on arrests and trials in Lida, Hrodna region, Pravo imeyut Telegram channel reported.

Viasna said that authorities blacklisted a history book by Anatol Taras, belarusunion.org website, and a number of local social media pages and Telegram channels.

Other instances of persecution

Authorities shut down a Viciebsk-based public organization promoting self-government and run by well-known activist Khrystafor Žalapaŭ.

As of September 23, human rights defenders identified at least 1,342 political prisoners.