Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

February 9, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on February 8.

Arrested and released

Police arrested Pavieł Pašukievič from Dziatłava, Hrodna region, a pro-government source said. He might face criminal charges for online comments about Alaksandr Łukašenka.

Authorities released Maryna Kałaskova after she had served seven months in prison for allegedly insulting a public official, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

New criminal cases

Authorities accused Mikałaj Čarnavus Jr. from Baranavičy, Brest region, of insulting Łukašenka, Viasna said. Since February 7 he has been serving a 15-day jail term for distributing opposition content.

Criminal proceedings

The Hrodna Regional Court sentenced reporter and Polish minority activist Andrzej Poczobut (Andrej Pačobut) to eight years in prison after finding him guilty of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions, BPN reported.

The Homiel Regional Court sentenced Siarhiej Plaškun and Juryj Selvič to 16 and 14 years in prison, respectively, over alleged intentions to damage railroad equipment in protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Viasna said.

A court in Minsk sentenced history teacher Siarhiej Kozeł to three years of restricted freedom in home confinement for alleged participation in protests.

Other instances of persecution

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Kryścina Čarankova, sentenced to two and a half years in prison for social media comments allegedly inciting hatred.

On February 9, a court in Minsk will hear an appeal by ten defendants against authorities’ decision to blacklist Rabočy Ruch (Workers’ Movement) as an extremist group, a Telegram channel monitoring politically-motivated cases in the Hrodna region said.

As of February 9, human rights defenders identified at least 1,448 political prisoners.