Update on trials, arrests, detention conditions

September 25, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on September 23 and 24.

Several arrests, one release

Mahiloŭ police arrested pharmacist Kaciaryna Bibilnikava, 29, allegedly for participating in protests, MAYDAY, a volunteer group of the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Police also arrested Alaksandr Zachožy and Aryna Sianiuta for participation in protests.

Authorities released human rights defender Taćciana Łasica, who was serving two and a half years in prison. She was released early after spending a year and eight months behind bars, the Homiel branch of Viasna reported.

Trials

A court fined Protestant Pastor Antoni Bokun 3,200 rubels (about $1,260), said his parishioner and political activist Dzianis Sadoŭski.

A court in Minsk sentenced genetics researcher Jaŭhien Sysalacin to 15 days in jail for social media posts. His friends link the arrest to his participation in 2020 protests.

The Minsk City Court started hearing the case against Siarhiej Sacuk, investigative journalist and Yezhednevnik editor in chief, accused of bribery and abuse of power, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported.

A court in Hrodna sentenced Źmicier Januškievič to a year in prison for online comments about Alaksandr Łukašenka and state symbols, MAYDAY said.

A court in Mahiloŭ upheld the verdict against Arciom Aniščuk, sentenced to two years in prison for damaging the car belonging to a wife of a top police official. One day before his release, Aniščuk was confronted with new charges of insulting a public officer and received a three-year sentence, Viasna said.

On October 10, the Minsk City Court will start hearing the case against Anastasija Kuchto accused of participating in protests and calling to sanctions.

Anesthesiologist Taćciana Tałočka, accused in a politically-motivated case linked to protests, will go on trial in Minsk on September 30. In August 2020, she treated Cimur Mickiewič, a minor who fell into a coma after being beaten by police. He fled Belarus later and joined a Belarusian volunteer unit in Ukraine.

Detention conditions

Polish minority activist Andrzej Poczobut, in custody since March 2021 on charges of inciting hatred, has been transferred to a pre-trial detention center in Hrodna. He may to go on trial in Hrodna soon, BAJ said.

Other instances of persecution

Belarusian authorities added new entries to their list of “extremist” groups, including the subscribers of several protest social media pages and channels as well as individuals linked to the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Belarusian volunteer regiment fighting Russia in Ukraine.