Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

December 20, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on December 19.

Arrests

Police arrested journalist and writer Siarhiej Čyhryn over allegedly reposted opposition content, BPN reported. A court jailed him for seven days.

Police also arrested a married couple who returned to Belarus after living abroad for two years on suspicion of participating in 2020 protests, a pro-government source said.

Trials in absentia

Authorities started special proceedings against Valeryj Capkała, former presidential hopeful and ex-diplomat, BPN reported. Capkała who fled Belarus for fear of arrest faces a number of criminal charges. These include creating and running an extremist group, discrediting Belarus, taking bribes, inciting hatred and insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka.

The Minsk City Court also started special proceedings against Alaksandra Hierasimenia and Alaksandr Apiejkin, founders of the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation. Authorities accuse them of calling for sanctions and harming national security. Both left Belarus for fear of political persecution.

Criminal proceedings

A court in Homiel scheduled the trial of Taćciana Kurylina, suspected of administering opposition chats, for December 28, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Kurylina stayed abroad but the police lured her back to Belarus. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

A court sentenced Hienadź Barys, 55, an Afghanistan war veteran, to three years of restricted freedom at an open-type correctional facility. He was accused of insulting Łukašenka and abusing state symbols.

Alaksandr Sinica, 19, is to serve 18 months in prison for opposition graffiti.

Termination of persecution

Police dropped criminal charges against journalist Aleś Daščynski, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reported. Police returned his confiscated belongings and released him from under house arrest. 

As of December 20, human rights defenders identified at least 1,436 political prisoners.