Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution
February 18, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on February 17.
One arrested, several released
Hrodna police arrested businessman Andrej Alijeŭ for allegedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka and signing up for the opposition’s Pieramoha Plan, a pro-government source said.
Authorities released Valancin Łabačoŭ after he had served 18 months in prison for online comments on charges of insulting Łukašenka, MAYDAY.TEAM reported.
Authorities also released musician Siarhiej Daliviela after he had served two years in prison for online comments on the 2021 shootout involving an IT engineer and KGB officers, known as the “Zielcer case,” Dissidentby said.
Criminal proceedings
The Homiel Regional Court sentenced ten Rabočy Ruch (Workers’ Movement) activists to lengthy prison terms ranging from 11 to 15 years on a number of criminal charges, including high treason, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.
A court in Hrodna sentenced Kirył Suslin to two and a half years in prison for online comments on the 2021 shootout involving an IT engineer and KGB officers, known as the “Zielcer case.”
The Minsk Regional Court will start hearing the criminal case against former presidential hopeful Valer Capkała on March 1 without the defendant being present, the Supreme Court said. He faces 12 criminal charges, including taking bribes, creating an extremist group, inciting hatred and calling for terrorist attacks.
Maksim Selaźnioŭ and Dźmitry Marcinkievič will go on trial in Minsk on the same day over blowing up a police car in January 2022, Viasna reported.
The Minsk City Court will start hearing the case against 18 people accused of acts of terrorism on March 6, including an alleged attack on MP Aleh Hajdukievič, BPN reported. Defendants include Vadzim Prakopjeŭ, one of the founders of the Belarusian volunteer regiment Pahonia fighting Russia in Ukraine, and former police officers Ihar Čamiakin and Dzianis Chamicevič. All three are based outside Belarus and will be tried in absentia.
Other instances of persecution
Authorities charged human rights defender Anastasija Łojka with an offense against public order and incitement to hatred over her report about the persecution of Belarusian anarchists, critical of the police, Human Constanta reported. If found guilty, Łojka may be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison.
Minsk tour guide Valeryja Čarnamorcava might have left Belarus, Viasna said. In January, authorities sentenced her to two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement.
Extremist list updates
The Belarusian interior ministry has blacklisted 26 more people as extremists, taking their total to 2,442, BPN reported. The new additions include people convicted in politically-motivated cases, including journalist Alaksandr Lubiančuk and Mikałaj Bredzieleŭ, ex-spokesman for the Austria-owned A1 telecommunications company.
Extremist content updates
Authorities blacklisted a number of opposition social media pages as well as a website and pages linked to the outlawed Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaja Hramada) and its leader Mikałaj Statkievič, BPN reported.
As of February 18, human rights defenders identified at least 1,443 political prisoners.
- Economy
- PoliticsOpposition politician: Łukašenka sells Belarus’ sovereignty for Putin’s supportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterior ministry brands 28 people as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCash in circulation up 22 percent year on year – central bankThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus accounts for 93 percent of dairy imports to RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: exiled Belarusian journalist wanted in RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- EconomyRussia made available just over 30 percent of $1.5 billion import substitution loanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Łukašenka, Putin enact treaty on security guaranteesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka reiterates commitment to Russia, says Belarus building vehicles for OreshnikThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUkrainian MP urges Kyiv to step up support for Belarus’ freedom effortThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsKyiv files lawsuit to seize Biełaruśkalij assetsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecurityLithuanian PM warns against easing sanctions on Belarus’ potash industryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- EconomyLithuania intercepts four drones smuggling cigarettes from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsŁukašenka hoping embassy will help him strengthen ties with the VaticanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: defense company employee accused of calling for sanctionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyŁukašenka sacks police academy chiefThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKGB designates open-source intelligence project Phoenix extremist groupThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus, Russia to develop system for sharing checkpoint data on third-country travelersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsGermany arrests Belarusian suspected of smuggling sanctioned cars to RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityEP identifies Russia, with Belarus as ally, as EU’s biggest threatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyFinance ministry set to raise $50 million from US-dollar bondsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian, Iranian defense ministers hold talks in MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SportŁukašenka postpones commissioning of 33,000-capacity national stadiumThe material is available only to POZIRK+