Lawyer’s extremism charge trial begins in Minsk

January 16, BPN. Lawyer Vital Brahiniec went on trial in the Minsk City Court on January 16, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

The prosecutor accused him of creating an extremist group, calling on supporters to undermine Belarus’ national security, inciting hatred and organizing disturbances. Belarusian human rights groups said these charges were politically motivated.

The Committee for State Security (KGB) agents arrested the Brahiniec and Partners founder outside his Minsk home on May 23.

Brahiniec’s clients included Viasna’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader Aleś Bialacki.

He also defended fellow lawyer Andrej Mačałaŭ, but the arrest prevented him from getting the job done. On June 16, Mačałaŭ was sentenced to two years of restricted freedom, a type of home confinement, for using forged documents, a charge that he denied.

A total of six lawyers have been declared political prisoners by Belarusian rights groups.

Since the beginning of 2021, the Ministry of Justice has revoked the licenses of at least 60 counsellors. About 100 law offices were shut down, and about 400 individual lawyers stopped practicing law.

Pressure on the legal profession mounted after the 2020 election campaign. Lawyers virtually lost independence: since 2021, they can only work in legal consultancies, the heads of which are appointed in coordination with the justice ministry. In 2022, the powers of their superiors were expanded.

Alaksandr Łukašenka says lawyers should be “under control.”