Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

November 1, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on October 31.

Arrests

Police arrested human rights defender Anastasija Łojka on October 28 and three days later, a court in Minsk sentenced her to 15 days in jail on charges of disorderly conduct, Human Constanta reported. This is the third time that authorities jail her on these charges.

Police keep arresting people who are serving restricted freedom sentences on politically-motivated charges for participating in protests, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Viačasłaŭ Smirnoŭ, Vital Maskaloŭ, Jaŭhien Bancevič, Juryj Viničuk, Jaŭhien Pak, Vital Markušeŭski, David Šarakoŭ, Alaksandr Siačko, Dźmitryj Maksimčyk, and Uładzimir Chamičkoŭ are among those arrested at open-type correctional facilities across Belarus. Police also arrested Artem Michalcoŭ, Dźmitryj Hurejeŭ, Arciom Višneŭski, and Aleh Pasiuk.

Dzianis Akinfiejeŭ, a Belarusian Railway employee, is under arrest for online comments about police officers from Žłobin, Homiel region, pro-government Telegram channels reported.

Prosecutors accused Dźmitryj Siemčanka, a former head of Alaksandr Łukašenka’s press pool at the state-run ONT TV channel, of inciting hatred and took him into custody, the Prosecutor General’s Office said.

Trials

The Tor Band musicians, including the band founders Jaŭhien Burło and Dźmitryj Hałavač, arrested on October 28 in Rahačoŭ, Homiel region, for subscribing to and sharing opposition-created content, will serve 15 days in jail each, Viasna said. Julija Hałavač was fined.

Criminal proceedings

A court in Minsk sentenced Artur Smalakoŭ and Dzijana Čarnušyna to two years in prison, and Andrej Asmałoŭski, to three years for participating in 2020 protests. All three are members of the opposition United Civic Party (UCP).

Dzijana Mickievič will serve a restricted freedom sentence of two years and six months at an open-type correctional facility for participating in protests, Viasna said. Human rights defenders declared her a political prisoner. People sentenced to restricted freedom at an open-type correctional facility live in barracks and are required to find a job in the location. They are allowed to leave the facility for work only.

Ihar Biełanožka from Maładziečna, Minsk region, will serve one year in prison for online comments and insulting Łukašenka, Viasna said.

The Brest Regional Court sentenced Alaksiej Ivanoŭ, a Minsk resident, to three years in prison for online comments on the 2021 shootout involving an IT engineer and KGB officers, known as the “Zielcer case.”

Content blacklisted as “extremist”

Authorities blacklisted the content of the Belarusian Investigative Center (BRC) on 19 media resources, as well as its logos and the English-language name, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported.

New political prisoners

Human rights groups declared 19 more persons as political prisoners, taking their total number to a new high of 1,353 people. The real figure must be even higher because, according to activists, some political detainees cannot contact them, or do not want to for fear of repercussions.