Cichanoŭskaja: defending dissidents dangerous for lawyers, as evident from Brahiniec case

February 2, BPN. The case of Vital Brahiniec proves that it has become very dangerous for lawyers in Belarus to defend political prisoners, opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has said.

“I won’t stop calling out the injustice in Belarus. Today the former lawyer of Nobel Prize winner Aleś Bialacki was sentenced to eight years in prison,” she tweeted.

On February 2, the Minsk City Court sentenced lawyer Vital Brahiniec to eight years in a high-security penal colony, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Judge Alena Ananič found him guilty of forming an extremist group, calling for sanctions, inciting hatred and participating in protests. Belarusian human rights groups say these charges are politically motivated.

Brahiniec went on trial on January 16.

The Committee for State Security (KGB) agents arrested the Brahiniec and Partners founder outside his Minsk home in May 2022.

Brahiniec defended Aleś Bialacki, leader of Viasna, and his fellow lawyer Andrej Mačałaŭ. The arrest prevented him from completing his work.

Belarusian rights groups declared a total of six lawyers political prisoners.