Ten worker movement activists get lengthy prison terms

February 17, BPN. The Homiel Regional Court has found ten Rabočy Ruch (Workers’ Movement) activists guilty of crimes ranging from slander to high treason, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Judge Alaksandr Piskunoŭ sentenced Uładzimir Žuraŭka and Alaksandr Kapšul to 15 years in prison; Andrej Pahieryla, Siarhiej Šelest and Alaksandr Hašnikaŭ, to 14 years; Siarhiej Dziuba, Ihar Minc, Valancin Cieranievič and Siarhiej Šamećka to 12 years; and Hanna Abłab to 11 years.

The trial started on November 9. In late December, the judge closed the proceedings to the public.

Authorities accused the activists of illegally collecting confidential information on how Belarusian state-run businesses circumvent Western sanctions. They also said defendants passed that information to foreign countries and organizations, including the secret services of the USA and Lithuania.

Some of the defendants were accused of planning subversive acts at the Hrodna Azot nitrogen fertilizer plant and the Belarusian Steel Works (BMZ). Human rights groups dismissed the charges as politically motivated.

Authorities used recordings of a Zoom call with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja and defendants as evidence, Viasna said.

Rabočhy Ruch was established after the disputed 2020 presidential election as an association to defend worker rights and freedoms. In September 2021, the Committee for State Security (KGB) blacklisted it as an extremist group.

On February 9, a court in Minsk heard a collective appeal contesting the extremist status of the initiative. The outcome of the hearing has not been disclosed.

On February 15, reports said that Kapšul, 44, had been on hunger strike for 47 days in protest against violations of his detention conditions.