Two Połack museum workers transferred to pre-trial detention

April 16, BPN. Authorities have transferred jailed Połack museum worker Ihar Bortnik and photographer Ihar Supranionak to Detention Center No 2 in Viciebsk, a source told BPN.

Both were arrested during a police raid in Połack and Navapołack in late March and sentenced to jail terms for sharing opposition content.

On April 11, authorities jailed Supranionak for another 15 days but did not disclose the new charges against him.

On April 8, Bortnik was given 13 more days on charges of violating the order of holding mass events.

His colleague, Tamara Džumantajeva, was fired while she was serving a 15-day jail term. Authorities released her on April 13.

Other arrested museum workers, among them Aksana Šafran, Aksana Kozieł, Volha Filimonava, Viktoryja Babko, Nadzieja Jaźmier and Alena Chodzikava, were forced to part with their equipment and freed only to stand trial at a later date. Authorities accused them of sharing opposition content and commenting on social media posts.