Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

December 12, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on December 11.

Arrested and released

Police arrested an owner of a tourist farm from the Brasłaŭ district, Viciebsk region, pro-government sources reported. The man denies being an opposition activist in the video distributed by a Telegram channel linked to police. He admitted to reading opposition Telegram channels, reposting some content, including posts insulting policemen.

Authorities released Aleh Barazna, a former activist of Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja’s electoral campaign after he served in full his sentence of two years and three months in prison, the Viciebsk branch of Viasna said. Human rights groups said his persecution was politically-motivated despite his conviction on drug-related charges.

Criminal proceedings

A court in Minsk will start hearing a case against tour guide Aksana Mankievič on December 19, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Police arrested her in mid-September and accused her of participating in protests. Human rights groups consider Mankievič a political prisoner.

Political prisoners under pressure

The Žodzina prison authorities placed anarchist activist Ihar Alinevič into a punishment cell, Viasna reported. Alinevič is currently serving a 20-year prison term on charges widely believed to be politically motivated. The reason and the term of his solitary confinement remain unclear.

As of December 12, human rights defenders identified at least 1,437 political prisoners.