Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

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

Several arrested, one released

Police arrested Greek Catholic priest Vital Bystroŭ in Ivacevičy, Brest region, Chryścijanskaja Vizija reported. The reasons for his arrest remain unknown. He had been jailed for 10 days in 2020 for participating in protests.

IT engineer Valeryj Bujvidovič is also under arrest, pro-government sources said. Telegram channels linked to police posted a video, in which he admits to participating in protests and writing negative comments about police.

Police arrested a Babrujsk resident for reposting opposition content. Police forced him to film a video with a picture of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the Belarusian-born founder of the Soviet secret police.

Authorities released Juryj Kazakievič, owner of a Belarusian souvenir store and a member of the Movement for Freedom in the evening after his arrest on November 23, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Criminal proceedings

A court in Minsk sentenced well-known musician Uładzisłaŭ Pluščaŭ to three years in prison and a fine of 9,600 rubles (about $3,975), after finding him guilty of insulting a public official, slander, and illegal actions relating to private life and personal data. In early August, authorities had already sentenced him to two years in prison on similar charges. He is to serve a total of three years in prison, Viasna reported.

Authorities sentenced Natalla Zoryna from Svietłahorsk, Homiel region, to three years of restricted freedom without referral to an open-type correctional facility for participating in 2020 protests, according to Viasna. This type of sentence implies that people are confined to their residence during non-working hours and are required to retain or seek employment. Police can visit them anytime to make sure they comply with the terms of confinement.

Maksim Lacuncevič, a father of seven, went on trial at the Minsk City Court, Viasna reported. Authorities accuse him of inciting hatred. Human rights groups consider him political prisoner.

Brest resident Siarhiej Nikiciuk was ordered to serve three years in prison for an online comment about Alaksandr Łukašenka and for sharing a picture of his ballot in the 2020 presidential election, the Brest branch of Viasna said.

Minsk’s Zavodski District Court will start hearing a case against Aleś Papkovič on December 5, Viasna said. Authorities accuse him of participating in protests.

Content declared “extremist”

The interior ministry blacklisted a number of online communities as “extremist,” including local communities from Lida, Luniniec, Vaŭkavysk as well as Instagram accounts of Euroradio, Viasna, Free Belarus Center, the International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus, and others.

As of November 25, human rights defenders identified at least 1,1449 political prisoners.