Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

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

Arrests

Minsk police arrested businessman Bahdan Karaviec, founder of Astronim, a website development company, his wife Alena wrote on Facebook. The reasons for his arrest are unknown. Police summoned him for questioning earlier.

Police also arrested Anastasija Pietračenka in Homiel for allegedly donating to the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment of Belarusian volunteers fighting Russia in Ukraine, pro-government Telegram channels reported.

A student from Brest is under arrest for insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka, sharing opposition content and allegedly demonstrating a Nazi swastika in public. Authorities have not disclosed his name.

Criminal persecution and trials

A Minsk resident faces criminal charges for allegedly trying to launch a drone near a military unit.

The Minsk City Court sentenced Mikałaj Bredzieleŭ, spokesman for A1 telecommunications company, to four years in prison on charges of financing extremist groups, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

A court in Homiel sentenced opposition activist Illa Mironaŭ to 18 months in prison and released him in the courtroom as he had served his full term in pre-trial detention. Authorities persecuted him for posting condolences on his Facebook account in connection with the death of IT engineer Andrej Zielcer in a shootout with a KGB officer.

Maksim Bas will serve three and a half years in prison and pay a fine of 3,200 rubels (about $1,290) for online comments in the “Zielcer case.”

Brest resident Siarhiej Myc will serve two and a half years of restricted freedom with a fine of 2,240 rubels (about $900) on the same charges, Brestskaya Gazeta reported. It took Judge Jaŭhien Brahan just one hour to hear his case at a college in Brest with students being present. After the trial the students were warned about the inadmissibility of unlawful behavior.

A court in Hrodna sentenced Natalla Todras to two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement for comments about policemen in the Telegram messenger app, Viasna said. She also has to pay a fine of 2,000 rubels (some $800).

The trial of journalist Alaksandr Lubiančuk opened at the Minsk City Court. Authorities accuse him of association with an extremist group. He may face up to six years in prison if convicted.

The Minsk Regional Court ruled to hear the case of the so-called civil self-defense units of Belarus behind closed doors. Defendants Natalla Matvejeva, Vadzim Hulevič, Kiryl Ašurak, Alaksiej Hlotaŭ, and Dźmitryj Sasnoŭski are accused of terrorism, participation in a terrorist organization and inciting hatred.

Other instances of persecution

The interior ministry added 143 names to its list of persons involved in extremist activities on October 21, BPN reported. Most of the new additions are people accused of participating in protests, including those currently serving their sentences and those who have already been released.

Philosopher Uładzimir Mackievič, journalist Kaciaryna Andrejeva, brothers Kim and Alaksiej Samusenka, blogger Uładzisłaŭ Savin, makeup artist Volha Tomina, student Andrej Masłaŭ, opposition activist Źmicier Daškievič and his wife Anastasia are among the new entries.

As of October 24, human rights defenders identified at least 1,349 political prisoners.