Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution
December 16, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on December 15.
Arrests
Security forces in Minsk arrested prominent athlete Nadzieja Astapčuk, the Strana Dlya Zhizni foundation said. They placed her in a detention center on Akreścina Street in the Belarusian capital. Her supporters were not allowed to pass her a parcel. It is unclear whether she has been charged.
Law enforcers in Žłobin arrested five people suspected of participating in 2020 protests, Naša Niva reported. They are: Maryna Lachnovič, Taćciana Dziemčanka, Vadzim Kirjanaŭ, Nastaśsia Tatarynava and Kirył Kamaroŭ. Criminal cases were opened.
On December 13, police arrested a Category 2 disabled person who had heart surgery and a stroke, Pinsk resident Mikałaj Klimovič, for sharing an anti-war post comparing the Russian president to Hitler. Klimovič was remanded in custody before trial, but as his state deteriorated, an ambulance took him to a clinic. The suspect was released from the hospital on December 14. Charged with disseminating “extremist” content, he would go on trial on December 23.
Police arrested musician and art manager Uładzimir Bułaŭski in Viciebsk. This was his fifth arrest since 2020, Viasna Viciebsk reported. He may be suspected of tax evasion.
The Prosecutor General’s Office reports that prosecutors in Brest sent to jail a 38-year-old man who, “in a state of intoxication,” ripped the official flag off a railway station on the evening of December 10.
Criminal cases
New criminal cases have been opened against political prisoners Uładzimir Hundar, (disabled, lost his leg; 18 years in prison) and Pavieł Rezanovič (19 years in prison), the defendants in the high-profile Aŭtuchovič case, for supposedly insulting a prosecutor during the trial. The report on Rezanovič has not been verified, the Viasna Human Rights Center says.
Trials
Activists learned that on November 29, a judge sentenced husband and wife Viktar and Iryna Arechaŭ to two years of restricted freedom, a type of home confinement. The Minsk residents were accused of participating in a protest march based on a photo on Viktar Arechaŭ’s smartphone. Before the trial, the husband was held in custody, and the wife was released on bail of 8,000 rubels (some $3,200), Viasna reported.
A judge sentenced Mikita Saidaŭ, 19, to two-and-a-half years of restricted freedom for participating in a protest in August 2020 and drug trafficking, Viasna reported.
Prison conditions
Anarchists Mikita Jemialjanaŭ (six years in prison) and Siarhiej Ramanaŭ (20 years in prison), recognized as political prisoners, fear for their lives in Vaŭkavysk’s Correctional Colony No. 11. The administration exerts “great pressure” on them, dissidentby reported. It regularly places them in a punishment cell or an internal prison, and bars them from receiving letters.
Release
Vital Procharaŭ, 19, was freed after serving a two-year sentence in a colony. He had been charged with throwing a stone at a police wagon. Police beat him badly after the arrest, dissidentby reported.
As of December 16, human rights defenders identified at least 1,432 political prisoners.
- PoliticsŁukasenka wishes Nazarbayev a happy birthdayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church plans to open mission in UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCouncil of Europe affirms support for Belarusians at home and abroadThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusians proud of common heritage with Lithuania, grateful for support – CichanoŭskajaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusian foreign minister to attend BRICS summit in BrazilThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCoordination Council supports setting up tribunal on aggression against UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsViasna releases update on reprisals in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsJailed lawyer asks Lithuanian president to swap him for Belarus’ prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPro-government MP calls on emigrants to assault opposition politiciansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityMigration crisis tested Poland’s defense capability – DudaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUkraine, Russia hold new prisoner swap in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOSCE group: Belarus must end crackdown on opponentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUN expert urges Minsk to speed up release of jailed dissidentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus', Russia's PMs discuss integration in phone callThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy, PoliticsEU court upholds sanctions on Belarusian chemical plantsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsIrregular Belarus-EU crossings surge 62 percent in January-June from H2 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja's aide discusses political prisoners at UN human rights officeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyReprisals: 26 persecuted in Biełaruski Hajun caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+