Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution
January 14, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on January 13.
Arrests
The Investigative Committee confirmed that former presidential candidate Andrej Dźmitryjeŭ is under arrest. The investigators suspect him of gross violation of public order. Dźmitryjeŭ “took an active part in street riots in Minsk between August and September 2020,” the Investigative Committee charged. It added that the politician crossed Belarus’ border a total of 599 times, 33 times after 2020. Dźmitryjeŭ’s contacts with Westerners and the USA “may indicate coordination of his ‘political’ activities from abroad,” the investigators said, noting that Dźmitryjeŭ “was in contact with the US Department of State and its former head Hillary Clinton.” Media reported Dźmitryjeŭ’s arrest on the evening of January 11.
Law enforcers arrested tour guides Aleś Varykiš, Natalla Ždanok and Ivan Sacukievič, Radyjo Svaboda reported. They were taking 80 people to the rite of the Christmas Tsars in the village of Siemiežava, Kapyl district. Ždanok was later released.
Mayday.team reports that the Belarusian State University of Food and Chemical Technologies’ lecturer, professor Juryj Bubnoŭ, who has a doctorate in social sciences, was arrested at his workplace in Mahiloŭ on January 12. He was in charge of the humanities department. He co-founded the Center for Urban Initiatives and the Dranik Fest.
The Viasna Human Rights Center reports that culturologist Aksana Zareckaja, a member of the Coordinating Council for Political Crisis Settlement, was arrested at the end of December.
Siarhiej Hierasimienia, the director of a store in Babrujsk, has been held in a detention facility since December 14, accused of inciting hatred for speaking out in support of Ukraine, Viasna reported. The facility’s administration doesn’t give him a mattress and a pillow.
A month and a half ago, law enforcers arrested Siarhiej Kozieł, a history teacher at Minsk’s school No 30, Viasna reported. He is held in the detention center on Vaładarskaha Street in Minsk.
Police arrested Słonim resident Pavieł Sievaśćjan for keeping “extremist content” on Facebook. A judge gave him time to find a lawyer, and the next hearing will be held on January 20, Viasna reported.
A district court in Minsk sentenced an unnamed local man to 15 days in jail. It ruled that wearing a beanie with the Pahonia court of arms amounted to an unauthorized picket.
The Committee for State Security’s (KGB) investigations directorate said a criminal case against 18 people accused of terrorist acts, including the attack on the house of MP Aleh Hajdukievič, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, was passed to the Prosecutor General’s Office for a charging decision. The suspects include Vadzim Prakopjeŭ, an aide to the opposition cabinet’s defense chief Valer Sachaščyk, and Ihar Čamiakin, a former member of the interior ministry’s elite unit Almaz, who live abroad.
The Brest Regional Court sentenced Jury Kaściuk, 25, to four years in prison for helping political prisoners receive aid. Judge Śviatłana Kramianieŭskaja ruled it amounted to support of extremist activity. The Viasna Human Rights Center reported that the man pleaded not guilty and refused to testify. The Belarusian authorities have been intimidating the Brest resident since 2020. In 2022, he was put on the international wanted list and arrested in the Russian resort town of Sochi. Russia deported him on October 16. In protest against one deportation attempt he cut his stomach at the airport.
A court in Minsk sentenced journalists Śniažana Inaniec and Alaksandr Łyčaŭka to two and three years of restricted freedom, a type of home confinement, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reported. They were charged with organization of/active participation in group actions grossly disturbing public order. The husband and wife reporters were freed in the courtroom. They had been arrested in October 2022. Łyčaŭka, a local history enthusiast, cooperated with The Village. Inaniec, a former Tut.by journalist, worked at Onliner.by.
“Extremist” content
The KGB added three more people to its list of individuals and entities involved in terrorist activities. They are: a recognized political prisoner, former EPAM employee Siarhiej Kiryjenka, 38; Michaił Šakuraŭ, 67; Mikałaj Amielčanka, 33. All three were convicted for inciting hatred. There are a total of 996 people on the terrorist list, 253 Belarusian nationals among them.
The interior ministry added 30 people, including convicted journalist Ksienija Łuckina, to its own list of people involved in “extremist activities.” The list now has 2,311 entries.
A court in Minsk declared 12 books extremist, Viasna reported. A third of them were written by historian Anatol Taras. The list:
“Belarus Above All! (On Belarus’ National Idea)” by Anatol Taras;
“1942, the Year of Training” by Uładzimir Biešanaŭ;
“Forgotten Belarus” by Vadzim Dzieružynski;
“Notes of the Vacłaŭ Łastoŭski Society of Belarusian History Lovers. Issue Six. The ‘Russian World’ Challenge and Belarus” by Anatol Taras;
“Big Blood: How the USSR Won the War of 1941-1945” by Sergey Zakharevich;
“National and Cultural Life in Belarus During the War (1941-1944)” by Leanid Łyč;
“Post-Soviet Transition: Between Democracy and Dictatorship. A Collection of Articles” by Anatol Taras;
“Belarus’ Humanitarian Security. Conference Materials”;
“Shadow of Victory” by Viktor Suvorov;
“Pages of the Past: Articles on the History of Belarus” by Anatol Taras;
“Transformation of Belarusians’ Mentality in 21st Century. Conference Materials”;
“The Assassination of Wilhelm Kube – Who, How and Why” by Aleh Usačoŭ.
Other news
Prison guards in Hrodna threaten those convicted in the high-profile Aŭtuchovič case with solitary confinement, force them to undress in a cold room, push and beat them. The whereabouts of Baranavičy’s prisoner Uładzimir Hundar (disabled, lost his leg) have been unknown for a week.
Rabočy Ruch reports that arrested legal adviser Alaksandr Kapšul has been on hunger strike since December 31, demanding that his pre-trial detention center should treat him justly.
As of January 14, human rights defenders identified at least 1,445 political prisoners.
- PoliticsOpposition leader: regime uses hostages to put pressure on western neighborsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNGO network forwards evidence of Łukašenka’s crimes to ICCThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsJailed Babaryka Jr to stand another trialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsReprisals: two Belarusians convicted for disrupting Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsNGOs attempted a coup in 2020 – Belarusian ambassador claimsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyGeorgia did not satisfy a single asylum request from Belarusians in 2019–2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus reports death of a foreigner at Latvian borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyBelarus officials, entrepreneurs discussing ways to improve business conditionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyGovernment brands 30 people as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUkraine's outgoing envoy: democratic change possible in Belarus after Russia's defeatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBiełaruski Hajun shuts down after security breachThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja asks Albania to use UN to help Belarusian political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusians net sellers of foreign currency in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ foreign exchange reserves up 4.6 percent in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition, Pact of Free Cities agree on self-government training for BelarusiansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyOfficials boast expanding cell service coverage in 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, Politics
- EconomyGovernment cuts export duties on selected oil products by 60 percentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: data breach of opposition chat fuels evacuation requestsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- EconomyRussia’s Lada outsells China's Geely in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHuman rights activists designate 16 as former political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLocal officials to approve appointments of CEOs to private companiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsOpposition politician Łatuška meets with Dutch ambassador in WarsawThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCIS states debate AI regulationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+