Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

April 17, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on April 15 and 16.

Arrested and released

Homiel police arrested a musician known as Alex Trash on charges of sharing opposition content, volunteer Illa Mironaŭ wrote on Facebook.

Authorities released Krumkač rock band musicians Arciom Ramanaŭ and Alaksandr Kubyškin after they had served 10 days in jail for sharing opposition content.

Police released Juryj Mielaškievič, a political activist and head of the Majontak Padarosk company, but are pressing criminal charges of tax evasion against him, Naša Niva reported. He was arrested in October 2022 together with his colleague Dźmitryj Karabač (probably still in custody) and Siarhiej Makarevič, of the Viartańnie foundation, released on bail on April 12.

Trials

Authorities jailed Alaksiej Zimnieŭ for 14 days on charges of petty hooliganism, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. He is the co-founder of SlavCentr, a center for Slavic languages and cultures. Earlier, his wife and center’s director Iryna Zimnieva was fined 740 rubels (over $250) for allegedly swearing at police officers. She remains in custody since April 12 when police raided SlavCentr known for offering Polish language courses and consultation on admission to Polish universities.

Other instances of persecution

Authorities pardoned nine defendants in the Tut.by case following a request for pardon filed in December 2022, Zerkalo.io reported. Most likely, these include accountants Anžela Asad and Maryja Novik, chief engineer Ala Lapatka, Alaksandr Dajneka, assistant general director for technical issues; Iryna Rybalka, assistant director general for corporate affairs; former legal advisor Iryna Kasciuchenka; Andrej Aŭdzejeŭ, Publisher Box manager; Hoster.by CEO Siarhiej Pavališaŭ; Julija Čarniaŭskaja, widow of Tut.by founder Juryj Zisser.

Authorities have transferred jailed Połack museum worker Ihar Bortnik and photographer Ihar Supranionak to Detention Center No 2 in Viciebsk, BPN reported. Both were arrested in late March during a police raid in Połack and Navapołack. 

As of April 17, human rights defenders identified at least 1,496 political prisoners.