Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

January 6, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on January 5.

Arrests and releases

Police arrested Orthodox priest Dzianisij Karaśceleŭ from Minsk after a pro-government activist Volha Bondarava had complained that he had prayed for Ukrainians fighting Russia, Chryścijanskaja Vizija reported.

Police also arrested actor Andrej Tryzubaŭ, the Viasna Human Rights Center said. The reasons for his arrest remain unclear.

Andrej Ciareška from Hrodna is under arrest in for allegedly signing up to the opposition’s Pieramoha Plan, following opposition Telegram channels and sharing content with them, Viasna reported.

IT professional Pavieł Kutas was arrested in Minsk for online comments.

Authorities released Taćciana Źviarko after she had served in full her 18-month prison term for allegedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka and public officials online, Dissidentby reported. At the time of her trial, she had been on maternity leave. Human rights groups considered her a political prisoner.

Authorities also released Natalla Nikicina, a doctor with 30 years of experience, after she had served 13 months in prison for online comments, Viasna said.

Criminal proceedings

Authorities sentenced Hienadź Fiadynič, leader of the outlawed electronic trade union and the union’s acting chair Vasil Bierasnieŭ to nine years in prison each; and activist Vacłaŭ Areška, to eight years, Viasna said. They faced charges of inciting hatred, calling for sanctions and creating and running an extremist group.

The trial of Aleś Bialacki, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and Viasna’s leader, and his associates Valancin Stefanovič, Uładzimir Łabkovič and Źmicier Sałaŭjoŭ opened at the Leninski District Court in Minsk. Sałaŭjoŭ is tried in absentia as he has fled the country. Authorities accuse the human rights defenders of smuggling cash across the border and financing protests but the case is widely regarded as politically motivated.

The trial of jailed reporter Andrzej Poczobut (Andrej Pačobut), scheduled to open at the Hrodna Regional Court on January 9, was postponed again, this time to January 16, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said. Authorities accuse him of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions against Belarus.

Extremist list updates

Authorities blacklisted several social media accounts, including the Pol Pervogo Telegram channel, a parody of Łukašenka’s press office’s unofficial channel, BPN reported.

As of January 6, human rights defenders identified at least 1,444 political prisoners.