Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

January 30, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on January 28 and 29.

One arrested, two released

Police arrested Andrej Mielnikaŭ, a singer and songwriter from Homiel, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. He will remain in jail until February 5.

Authorities released tour guides Ivan Sacukievič and Aleś Varykiš after they had served 15 and 10 days in jail, respectively, Radio Svaboda reported. Police arrested them on January 13, when they took 80 tourists to a Christmas event in the Minsk region.

Criminal proceedings

Viačasłaŭ Malajčuk, 37, sentenced to 22 years in prison on charges of preparing terrorist acts, will go on a new trial on February 10 for allegedly disobeying prison authorities, Viasna said. Human rights groups consider him a political prisoner.

Other instances of persecution

Dźmitryj Ivaškoŭ, currently serving a six-year prison term over protests, was transferred from Mahiloŭ Penal Colony No 15 to prison for the next three years, Viasna reported. In December 2022, he spent 20 days in a punishment cell and was later placed in the colony’s internal prison for a month.

Uładzimir Hundar, 62, sentenced to 18 years in prison in the high-profile Aŭtuchovič case, was forced to undress before entering a room where authorities wanted to present alleged evidence for his new trial. Authorities accuse him of insulting the prosecutor and scheduled the trial for January 31. Hundar refused to enter the room in protest.

Aleh Rubiec, currently serving five and a half years in prison on charges widely seen as politically-motivated, remains in a punishment cell since December 24. Last June, authorities transferred him from the Navapołack penal colony to the prison in Žodzina.

As of January 30, human rights defenders identified at least 1,441 political prisoners.