Human rights defender Łojka faces criminal charges

December 25, BPN. Authorities have accused human rights defender Anastasija Łojka of participating in protests, Human Constanta reported.

The second criminal charge against her remains unknown, it added.

Authorities transferred the activist to Detention Center No 1 on Valadarskaha Street in Minsk.

Police arrested Łojka on October 28 and locked her up on charges of petty hooliganism. Pro-government media posted a video of her saying that she received money from “foreign organizations.”

Łojka, a team member of outlawed Human Constanta, monitored changes in legislation and defended the rights of foreigners and stateless people in Belarus.

Human Constanta urged international organizations to condemn Łojka’s arrest and the persecution of Belarusian human rights defenders and use all available international mechanisms to force the authorities to stop the crackdown.