Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

March 28, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on March 27.

Arrested and released

Authorities in Babrujsk, Mahiloŭ region, placed Andrej Sinica under arrest for 10 days on suspicion of committing a crime, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. He remains in custody after having served 15 days in jail for sharing opposition content.

Authorities released Hrodna businesswoman and journalist Kaciaryna Šust after 10 days in jail for distributing opposition content, the Pravo Imeyut Telegram channel reported.

Authorities also released Valiancin Łazarankaŭ, a leader of the Belarusian Social-Democratic Party (Hramada), the party’s press office reported. Police arrested him in Brest on March 24 on undisclosed charges.

Trials

Mikałaj Zajac, a former spokesperson for the Janka Kupała theater, was given two consecutive jail terms of 12 and 14 days, DW Belarus reported. One of the charges against him was petty hooliganism.

Authorities jailed Cimafiej Łukaševič, a soccer player with FC Maxline, and his fiancée Kaciaryna for 10 days each, a Telegram channel covering sports events reported. Police arrested Łukaševič during soccer practice in Minsk.

New criminal cases

Authorities accused Ihar Šumiłaŭ from Baranavičy, Brest region, of insulting a public official after he had served 15 days in jail for sharing opposition content, Viasna said. Šumiłaŭ has a disability after losing a leg in a traffic accident 10 years ago.

Criminal proceedings

Authorities in the Brest region sentenced Michaił Kucharčuk to one year in prison for online comments allegedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka.

A court in Minsk sentenced Anton Andrenka, Avangard Leasing CEO, to two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement over 2020 protests, Viasna reported. Earlier, Andrenka and his colleague Alaksiej (last name unknown) had spent 90 days in jail for alleged minor offenses. Michaił Kandratovič, 23, was given the same term on similar charges. 

Authorities also sentenced Ludmiła Bažok, 63, to two years of restricted freedom in home confinement over protests and Alena Barysiuk, to 18 months and a fine of 3,700 rubels (about $1,300) for online comments.

Photographer Varvara Miadźviedzieva will go on trial in Minsk on March 28 on charges of participating in protests. Police arrested her in December 2022 together with her husband when they returned to Belarus for medical treatment.

Viktoryja Kulša, currently imprisoned on charges widely seen as politically-motivated, will be tried again on April 6 for allegedly disobeying prison authorities. She is currently held at the Homiel women’s prison and was recently placed in an internal prison for six months.

Other instances of persecution

Authorities transferred Alaksandr Mancevič, 64, editor in chief of Rehijanalnaja Hazieta, to Prison No 8 in Žodzina, Minsk region, Viasna reported. He faces criminal charges but authorities have not disclosed them.

Terrorist list updates

The Belarusian Committee for State Security (KGB) added four more people to the list of “persons involved in terrorist activities,” including former investigator Jaŭhien Juškievič, sentenced to 11 years in prison in a politically-motivated case, BPN reported.

As of March 28, human rights defenders identified at least 1,465 political prisoners.