Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

January 13, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on January 12.

Several arrested, one released

Homiel police arrested businessman Juryj Taškinaŭ for donating money to the opposition’s BySol initiative and anti-war social media posts, pro-government sources said.

Police also arrested Jaŭhien Kuźniacoŭ, a managing partner of Lo-Fi Social Club in Minsk, which closed down in March 2022, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. The reasons for his arrest remain unclear.

An IT professional (last name unknown) is under arrest for allegedly sharing policemen’s personal data with Chernaya Kniga Belarusi (Eng.: Black Book of Belarus), an online project exposing the identities of security officers who mistreated and brutalized peaceful protesters, pro-government sources said.

Authorities released Piotr Zinievič, 53, under an amnesty program. He was serving a two-year restricted freedom sentence at an open-type correctional facility for an online comment about a policeman, Dissidentby reported.

Other instances of persecution

Prosecutors referred to court a criminal case against former presidential hopeful Valer Capkała, BPN reported. He faces 12 criminal charges, including taking bribes, creating an extremist group, inciting hatred and calling for terrorist attacks. Authorities started special proceedings against Capkała on December 16, planning to hold the trial without him being present.

The Investigative Committee said it opened a special procedure case against Stanisłaŭ Łupanosaŭ from the BYPOL association of former security forces. Authorities accuse him of high treason, abusing his power, and data leaks. Łupanosaŭ resigned from the interior ministry and left Belarus after the 2020 presidential election. He is blacklisted as a terrorist.

The Babrujsk penal colony administration placed Jaŭhien Prapolski in the internal prison, where he will remain for another week, Viasna reported. He is currently serving an eight-year term on politically-motivated charges of participating in protests and damaging property.

The Babrujsk penal colony administration also transferred Alaksandr Ivanoŭ to the internal prison for the remaining term of his 20-month sentence, Viasna said. In July 2022, a judge convicted him of hooliganism and participation in protests.

Dźmitryj Łukša, a former anchor at the Belarus 1 TV channel, was transferred to Mahiloŭ Prison No 4 pending his appeal, Viasna said. In December 2022, a court in Minsk sentenced him to four years in prison for allegedly discrediting Belarus and participating in protests.

Musician Alaksiej Iljinčyk, 60, currently held at a pre-trial detention center, is not receiving parcels with his medications, Viasna said. Police arrested him in August 2022 for reasons that still remain unclear. Human rights defenders think he might be charged with inciting hatred, insulting a public official and resisting police.

As of January 13, human rights defenders identified at least 1,435 political prisoners.