Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

April 12, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on April 10 and 11.

Arrests

Police arrested social-democratic activist Piotr Kanstancinaŭ, 59, two weeks after his release from prison where he had served two years over 2020 protests, Radio Svaboda reported. The charges against him remain unclear.

Police also arrested Andrej Aleščyk from Hrodna for allegedly signing up for the opposition’s Pieramoha Plan, Naša Niva reported.

A biker is under arrest in Minsk for sharing opposition content, a pro-government source said. In 2020, he reportedly participated in the protests.

A Russian national was arrested in Minsk for a white-blue-white car sticker and accused of promoting terrorism, the Viasna Human Rights Center said. This color combination represents Russian opposition and is also used by Russian volunteers who fight on the Ukrainian side.

Police arrested six men and one woman in the Homiel region for allegedly sharing opposition content.

Raids and arrests were also reported in Dziaržynsk, Minsk region.

Trials

A court in the Viciebsk region jailed photographer Ihar Supanienka for another 15 days after he served the same term for sharing opposition content, BPN reported.

Human rights defender Viktar Sazonaŭ was fined 925 rubels (over $310) on similar charges, Haradzienskaja Pravaabarona said. He spent three days in pre-trial detention following his arrest in Hrodna on April 7.

New criminal cases

Hrodna businessman Anton Jankoŭski is accused of creating and leading an extremist group following a 15-day jail term for sharing opposition content, Pravo Imeyut Telegram channel reported.

Criminal proceedings

The Minsk City Court sentenced defense attorney Alaksandr Danilevič to 10 years in prison, lawyer Dźmitryj Łajeŭski’s Telegram channel reported. Authorities accused him of promoting extremism and calling for sanctions for assisting the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation (BSSF).

The same court fined political analyst Jaŭhien Prejhierman, MP Valeryj Varaniecki, and the head of the instrustrialists’ and entrepreneurs’ union Alaksandr Šviec 18,500 rubels (some $7,300) each, Viasna reported. They vouched for Tut.by journalists Alena Tałkačova and Volha Łojka, and Tut.by lawyer Kaciaryna Tkačenka who did not show up for their trial because they had fled Belarus.

A court in the Viciebsk region sentenced a 26-year-old resident of Orša to two years in prison for sharing a picture of Russian military equipment with an opposition Telegram channel, the Prosecutor General’s Office said.

A court in the Homiel region sentenced Uładzisłaŭ Bochan from Žłobin to two years of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility over 2020 protests, Viasna reported.

Authorities also sentenced Jauhien Ficaŭ from Minsk and Anastasija Padhajskaja from Baranavičy, Brest region, to three years of restricted freedom in home confinement each for participating in the 2020 protests and sharing information with opposition Telegram channels, respectively.

Jana Pinčuk’s trial opened at the Minsk City Court. She faces several politically-motivated charges for running an opposition Telegram channel. Pinčuk was arrested in Russia and extradited to Belarus.

Jailed opposition activist Alena Hnaŭk, 66, went on trial in Homiel for allegedly disobeying prison authorities. She is currently serving a three-and-a-half-year prison term on charges widely seen as politically-motivated. 

Private school teacher Dźmitryj Jurtajeŭ will go on trial in Minsk on April 14 for allegedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka online.

Cab driver Raman Arciomienka will be tried in Homiel on April 17 on charges of slandering Łukašenka. On the same day, a court in Minsk will hear the case against theater actor Andrej Tryzubaŭ who is accused of participating in protests.

Jailed Vasil Dzemidovič, 70, will go on trial in Homiel on April 20 for allegedly insulting public officials. Earlier, authorities had sentenced him to a total of six and a half years in prison on several politically-motivated charges.

Other instances of persecution

Viciebsk prosecutors are summoning local residents previously convicted in politically-motivated cases and questioning them about their contacts with the exiled opposition, MAYDAY.TEAM reported.

As of April 12, human rights defenders identified at least 1,484 political prisoners.