Update on trials and politically-motivated persecution

December 5, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on December 3 and 4.

Trials

Police arrested Volha Kraŭčuk, 60, from Fanipal, Minsk region, for reposting opposition content. Authorities jailed her for 15 days, pro-government Telegram channels reported.

Criminal proceedings

Alaksandr Jarašuk, chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BCDTU), his deputy Siarhiej Antusievič, and BCDTU activist Iryna But-Husaim will go on trial on December 20 at the Minsk City Court, the Supreme Court said.

Deputy Prosecutor of Homiel Iryna Kurbackaja asked the judge to delete the aggravating circumstance “ideological hatred” from the wording of the sentence imposed on opposition activist Illa Mironaŭ, he said. Despite the move, the prosecutor upheld the 18-month prison sentence imposed on the activist for allegedly discrediting the state. A court in Homiel released Mironaŭ in the courtroom after he had served his full term in pre-trial detention.

Detention conditions

Alaksandr Pleskacevič, sentenced to two years of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility, has been transferred to a prison in Babrujsk, Mahiloŭ region, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Authorities have also transferred prominent artist Aleś Puškin to Hrodna’s Prison No 1. He is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for allegedly inciting hatred and desecrating state symbols.

Prison authorities placed Alena Łazarčyk, currently serving an eight-year prison sentence, into punishment cell. Human rights defenders do not know any further details.

Extremist status

Authorities blacklisted a number of local Telegram channels and chats from Hrodna, Kojdanava, and Orša, Viasna said. 

As of December 13, human rights defenders identified at least 1,448 political prisoners.