Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

February 10, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on February 9.

Arrests and releases

Minsk police arrested lawyer Maksim Ahiejeŭ, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Charges against him and his whereabouts are unknown. Ahiejeŭ was a defense attorney in several politically-motivated cases, including the Biełhazprambank case, which was opened after former CEO Viktar Babaryka had announced his presidential bid in 2020.

Police also arrested businessman Piotr Staracitoraŭ from Mazyr, Homiel region, for antiwar comments in social media, Naša Niva reported. Authorities may charge him with inciting hatred.

IT professional Dźmitryj Litvinienka, 34, is under arrest for anti-Russian comments in the context of Russia’s war on Ukraine, Viasna said. His arrest is linked to certain Ihar Kaniušyk who provokes people into talking about politics in a Telegram video chat and then passes the footage to police.

Authorities released political prisoner Ivan Andrušojć after he had served in full three and a half years in prison for allegedly hacking into the computer systems of the Minsk City Executive Committee in 2020.

Hrodna businessman Anton Jankoŭski was released after 15 days in jail on charges of distributing opposition content.

Authorities also released Jaŭhien Damaracki and Dźmitryj Novik after they had served two years in prison each over protests, the Homiel branch of Viasna reported.

Criminal proceedings

Authorities sentenced Aleh Juškievič and Mikita Karpienka to two years in prison each, Viasna said. Juškievič was accused of insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka and public officials; Karpienka, of inciting hatred and insulting Łukašenka.

The Minsk City Court sentenced former student Kaciaryna Chułchačyjeva to two years in prison for online comments on the 2021 shootout involving an IT engineer and KGB officers, known as the “Zielcer case.” She had already served this term in pre-trial detention and was released in the courtroom. 

A court in the Mahiloŭ region sentenced Uładzisłaŭ Mazuraŭ and Illa Kavaloŭ to three months in jail on charges of abusing state symbols, Viasna said.

A court in the Minsk region sentenced footballer Juryj Dženžera to two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement over 2020 protests.

A court in the Brest region ordered Siarhiej Aŭdziejeŭ to undergo compulsory medical treatment for insulting Łukašenka in social media. He was reportedly diagnosed with a mental disorder.

A prosecutor has requested lengthy prison terms ranging from nine to twelve years for Aleś Bialacki, Valancin Stefanovič, Uładzimir Łabkovič and Źmicier Sałaŭjoŭ from the Viasna Human Rights Center. Authorities accuse them of smuggling cash across the border and financing protests. The verdict will be pronounced in early March.

Other instances of persecution

Information ministry unblocked the website of Intex Press, an independent media outlet based in Baranavičy, Brest region, after over a year of blocking it, Intex-press.by reported.

As of February 10, human rights defenders identified at least 1,442 political prisoners.