Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

November 10, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on November 9.

Arrests

Police arrested five founders of Sajuz Biełaruskaha Nacyanalnaha Ščyta (Eng. Union of the Belarusian National Shield) social media community recently blacklisted as an extremist group, pro-government sources said. They are accused of railway sabotage and arson.

Mahiloŭ police arrested a former editor of the samizdat outlet Vestniki currently collaborating with state-run media. Another Vestniki editor, Andrej Famin, was arrested earlier.

New criminal cases

Since the start of 2022, prosecutors instituted a total of 17 criminal cases in Minsk over the desecration of state symbols, the Investigative Committee said.

Criminal proceedings

The trial of Rabočy Ruch (Labor Movement) activists opened in Homiel, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Authorities accuse the activists of illegally collecting confidential information on how Belarusian state-run businesses circumvent Western sanctions. They also say defendants passed that information to foreign countries and organizations, including the secret services of the USA and Lithuania.

A court in Minsk sentenced Maksim Stasilevič, a prominent member of the evangelical community, to two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement for participation in protests.

The trial of Vital Astrejka accused of libeling and insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka will open at the Maskoŭski District Court in Minsk on November 17.

Dźmitryj Łatuškin received a three-year restricted freedom sentence in home confinement for participating in 2020 protests.

A judge sentenced Jaŭhien Rahucki from Homiel to two years in prison for a message sent via the Telegram application. He suffers from rheumatoid arthritis.

Other instances of persecution 

The Minsk city government has prohibited Catholic believers from gathering for prayers in any buildings and yard of the Red Church, closed under the pretext of repairs, Naša Niva reported.

Hrodna State University fired history professor Sviatłana Siłova citing a three-hour absence from work as a reason, she said on Facebook. In October, she was fined on charges of distributing extremist content.

Police raided the apartment of the husband of the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment spokeswoman Kryścina Stankievič (call sign Čabor), following the last week’s raid on her own home, Viasna said.

A court in Russia’s St. Petersburg ruled to extradite Orša resident Andrej Ruskich accused of insulting Łukašenka.

As of November 10, human rights defenders identified at least 1,389 political prisoners.