Update on trials and politically-motivated persecution

December 31, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on December 30.

Arrests

Law enforcers in Mahiliou arrested art college student Dźmitryj Silin, the Viasna Human Rights Center said. Early reports suggest that subscription to “extremist” Telegram channels and registration for the opposition’s “victory plan” might have been the cause of the arrest.

Trials

The Minsk City Court sentenced to four years in prison a 44-year-old Latvian national, Dmitrijs Mihailovs, charged with calling for sanctions on Belarus, inciting hatred, insulting a public official and offending Alaksandr Łukašenka with his social media posts, Viasna reported.

A district court in Minsk sentenced a 33-year-old local resident, Alaksandr Dzierbinski, to 18 months of restricted freedom, a type of home confinement. It found the man guilty of protesting in 2020, Viasna said.

A district court in Minsk gave a guilty verdict to spouses Siarhiej Kudrycki and Marharyta Kudryckaja, arrested for participation in 2020 protests. It sentenced the husband to two years in prison for drug trafficking. The wife was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom for organization of/active participation in group actions grossly disturbing public order, Viasna said.

A district court in Minsk sentenced political prisoner Volha Ramancova to two years of restricted freedom, Viasna reported. It also fined her 5,000 rubels (some $1,800). Ramancova was accused of insulting a judge with a comment on the Telegram messaging app.

The Bierazino District Court, Minsk region, sentenced local resident Piotr Piatruša to six months’ deprivation of liberty for desecration of buildings and damage to property. Viasna said the case was opened for 11 drawings of the opposition’s white-red-white flag on public transport stops, power line poles and other facilities in Minsk.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said it referred the case against the Nexta media project founder, Ściapan Puciła, and members of his team Jan Rudzik and Raman Pratasievič to court. They are accused of creating an extremist group, organizing mass riots, calling for seizure of power and other crimes that can be punished with long prison sentences. Citing state interests, the prosecutors also demanded that the accused should pay 30 million rubels (some $11 million) for property damage. They said that Pratasievič remains under house arrest in Belarus, and that EU-based Puciła and Rudzik would be tried in absentia.

Prosecutors referred the case against Dźmitryj Ściapanaŭ, a 38-year-old resident of Brest, to court, accusing him of moderating Telegram chat GOBK, deemed extremist by the authorities, Viasna reported.

A judge sentenced Viciebsk art manager Uładzimir Bułaŭski, arrested on December 14, to 15 days in jail. Viasna Viciebsk reported that he would be released on January 1. Early reports indicate that he went on trial for disseminating “extremist” content.

“Extremist lists”

The interior ministry added another 29 people to the list of “persons involved in extremist activities.” The updated list includes political prisoners, such as opposition politician Pavieł Łatuška’s cousin Anatol Łatuška, as well as Alena Malinoŭskaja and Lilija Ananian. The updated list includes 2,263 names.

“Extremist content”

A district court in Homiel recognized the content of online magazine KYKY as “extremist.” This includes the website, social media and a Patreon page. In addition, it banned any visuals associated with the KYKY brand.

The state also recognized as “extremist content” Telegram channel Miensk 97 Percent, VK group Svobodny Zhlobin | Free Zhlobin, and the book “Interpretation of the Last 10 Ajzā of the Noble Quran,” Viasna reported.

Other news

The licenses of nine lawyers have been revoked, the justice ministry reported. They are: Andrej Kamisaraŭ; Andrej Nieviadoŭski; Jahor Papkoŭski; Maryja Davydčyk; Siarhiej Kosmač; Halina Mamońka; Viktar Mackievič; Uładzimir Pylčanka; Uładzimir Jahadzinski. There’s one more lawyer, Alaksandr Čyrva, who’s license would be terminated on January 11, 2023. Pylčanka and Mackievič defended regime critics.

Law enforcers placed European Belarus campaigner Palina Šarenda-Panasiuk, serving a prison sentence in Zarečča, Rečyca district, Homiel region, in a punitive cell for 10 days. Before that, the political prisoner had been kept in a special housing unit (PKT) for more than two months. In October, a new case was opened against 47-year-old Šarenda-Panasiuk for defying prison administration orders, Viasna reported.

Law enforcers placed anarchist activist Mikita Jemialjanaŭ, 22, in a punishment cell. The political prisoner is doing time in Vaŭkavysk, Hrodna region, Telegram channel Basta wrote.

Political prisoner Anita Bakunovič, 19, was transferred to Hrodna’s Prison No. 1, Viasna reported. She was previously held in a KGB detention facility in Minsk. In June, the Minsk resident was sentenced to two years of restricted freedom. On September 21, she was arrested while trying to cross into Lithuania.

As of December 31, human rights defenders identified at least 1,451 political prisoners.