Minsk 10:42

Human rights defender Łojka accused of incitement to hatred on top of her other charge

February 17, BPN. Human rights defender Anastasija Łojka is charged with an offense against public order and incitement to hatred, Human Constanta reports.

Up until now, the human rights group has only been aware of the public order charge.

Law enforcers argued that writing a report about the persecution of Belarusian anarchists, critical of the police, amounts to stirring up hatred. If found guilty, Łojka may be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison.

“We believe that trying to charge Nasta under this article is another evidence of her being held in detention only because of her human rights activism,” Human Constanta said.

Łojka, a team member of the outlawed Human Constanta, monitored changes in legislation and defended the rights of foreigners and stateless people in Belarus.

Police arrested her on October 28. Pro-government media posted a video of her saying that she received money from “foreign organizations.”

She was initially jailed for petty hooliganism. Łojka complained about police brutality while in jail, reports say.

Human Constanta urged international organizations to condemn Łojka’s arrest and the persecution of Belarusian human rights defenders and use all available international mechanisms to force the authorities to stop the crackdown.

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