Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

November 29, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on November 28.

Arrested and released

Police arrested an IT company employee from Minsk for allegedly donating to the BySol solidarity fund, a pro-government source said. His name is not disclosed.

Authorities released Siarhiej Perfiljeŭ who had served two years in prison for participating in 2020 protests, dissidentby reported.

Trials

Authorities charged human rights defender Anastasija Łojka with disorderly conduct, Human Constanta reported. The court will pronounce a verdict on November 29. Łojka had already served two 15-day jail terms after being convicted of the same offense.

Authorities jailed Volha Aniščuk for 10 days for distributing extremist content following her previous two jail terms of 24 days in total, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. The woman went on a hunger strike protesting detention conditions. Her husband, Arciom Aniščuk, is also in custody in a politically-motivated case.

Criminal proceedings

The Minsk City Court sentenced former prosecutor Aleh Jermakoŭ to six years in prison for allegedly sharing personal data of police officers with opposition Telegram channels, Viasna said.

Michaił Tarasievič from Minsk was sentenced to six years in prison for insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka and public officials as well as threatening violence against a police officer. He was ordered to pay 49,000 rubels (about $20,245) in damages to the alleged victims and the Minsk city authorities in connection with traffic disruptions caused by 2020 protests.

Authorities sentenced Siarhiej Savič to three years in prison and Aliaksiej Horbač, to two and a half years and a fine of 3,200 rubels (about $1,320) for online comments, Viasna reported. A court in Homiel sentenced Siarhiej Slažoŭ to three years in prison for insulting Łukašenka and online comments, according to Viasna. Human rights groups declared all three political prisoners.

Artur Vałčok from Fanipal, Minsk region, received an 18-month restricted freedom sentence in home confinement for critical comments about a senior police official, Viasna said.

IT engineer Aleh Harmazinski, currently serving a two-year prison term for insulting Łukašenka, will be tried again on November 30 for insulting a public official, Viasna said. Human rights defenders consider him a political prisoner.

Jaŭhien Visłaŭch will go on trial on December 1 in Mazyr, Homiel region, Viasna said. He is currently serving three and a half years in prison on a number of politically-motivated charges and has been repeatedly charged with insulting a public official.

The Prosecutor General’s Office referred to court the criminal case against Viasna’s leaders. Its head, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aleś Bialacki, his deputy Valancin Stefanovič and coordinator of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign Uładzimir Łabkovič are charged with illegally smuggling cash into Belarus and financing protests. Human rights defender Źmicier Sałaŭjoŭ, who has fled the country, would be tried in absentia as part of the same case.

Other instances of persecution

Authorities searched the home of activist Volha Damaskina from Navapołack as well as her mother’s place as a part of a criminal case, Viasna said. Police also interviewed her family members about the activities of the Movement for Freedom and its leader Juryj Hubarevič. Damaskina and her husband fled Belarus over a year ago.

Authorities imposed additional restrictions on people convicted in politically-motivated cases to restricted freedom in home confinement, ranging from more frequent night inspections to a ban to take children out for extracurricular activities.

“Extremist” status

Authorities labelled the Paspalitaje Rušeńnie (Eng.: mass call-up) initiative an extremist group. Opposition security chief Valer Sachaščyk set it up in September to defend Belarus’ independence. 

A court in Homiel blacklisted the content of the Belarusian Steel Works online community with some 1,500 members on Odnoklassniki social network, BPN reported.

As of November 29, human rights defenders identified at least 1,441 political prisoners.