Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

December 2, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on December 1.

Several arrested, one released

Police continue to arrest people who left negative comments about the late foreign minister Uładzimir Makiej, among them Alaksiej Kavaloŭ, Siarhiej Harecki, Michaił Liceŭka, and Vital Łankut, Naša Niva reported citing pro-government Telegram channels.

Michaił Miakieka, who had spent a long time in Poland, was arrested upon arrival in Belarus for allegedly signing up to the opposition’s Pieramoha Plan and threatening security officials, pro-government Telegraph channels said.

Police also arrested Anastasija Šaŭcova from Minsk, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.  

Authorities released Navapołack trade unionist Volha Brycikava after a month in custody. Human rights defenders said earlier that she might face criminal charges.

Trials

A court jailed sociologist Aksana Šelest for 15 days for allegedly disobeying police orders, social media linked to imprisoned philosopher Uładzimir Mackievič reported.

Minsk bartender Walter Goma was jailed for 13 days on November 11. Human rights defenders do not have information about his release, Viasna said.

Criminal proceedings

The Minsk City Court started hearing a case against Hienadź Mažejka, a former journalist with Komsomolskaya Pravda v Belarusi charged over his coverage of the 2021 shootout involving an IT engineer and KGB officers, known as the “Zielcer case.”

The Investigative Committee has forwarded to the Prosecutor General a criminal case against Belarusian opposition leaders and activists, including Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja and Pavieł Łatuška, who are to be tried in absentia, its press office reported.

Authorities forwarded a case against the news portal tut.by to court, pro-government Telegram channels said even though there has been no official confirmation yet. Tut.by CEO Ludmiła Čekina and editor in chief Maryna Zołatava remain in custody.

A criminal case against Darja Łosik, the wife of imprisoned opposition blogger Ihar Łosik, was also forwarded to court, pro-government Telegram channels reported. Authorities accuse her of facilitating extremism in connection with her interview to the Warsaw-based Belsat TV channel.

A judge upheld a three-year prison sentence for social-democratic activist Ihar Lednik, the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada reported noting that his health deteriorated.

Alaksandra Hierasimienia and Alaksandr Apiejkin, founders of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF), will be tried in absentia on December 19 in Minsk, the Supreme Court said.

Other instances of persecution

Police raided the apartment of Natalla Susłava, mother of a Belarusian volunteer who died in action fighting Russia in Ukraine. Pro-government Telegram channels said earlier that she faces criminal charges for her interview to Belsat TV.

Former presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka has a new job. He is burning coal at the Navapolack prison, whereas earlier he worked in the prison bakery, his campaign reported. Babaryka is currently serving a lengthy prison term on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Administration has imposed additional restrictions on people serving restricted freedom sentences in politically motivated cases, in particular at Minsk and Baranavičy correctional facilities, Viasna said.

The justice ministry’s qualification commission has disbarred Uładzimir Pylčanka and Viktar Mackievič, defenders.by reported.

As of December 2, human rights defenders identified at least 1,446 political prisoners.