Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

April 19, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on April 18.

Arrests

Law enforcers arrested Źmicier Bohuš, Technabank deputy board chairman, for remarks he made about Alaksandr Łukašenka in December. A criminal case has been opened, the state media reports.

Law enforcers arrested an underaged administrator of the SBNŠ group on Telegram, Viasna reported. The state had labeled the Sajuz Biełaruskaha Nacyanalnaha Ščyta (Eng. Union of the Belarusian National Shield) group as extremist.

Police in Brest arrested Uładzimir Ždanovič, 55, Viasna and the state media reported. He allegedly administered the “extremist” Telegram chat Severny 97, signed up for the opposition’s Victory Plan (Płan Pieramoha), and distributed extremist content.

At least six people were arrested in Navahrudak, Hrodna region, 10 in Homiel, and 10 in Novałukoml, Viciebsk region, Viasna reported.

Trials

At least 10 employees of the Naftan and Palimir plants in Navapołack, Viciebsk region, were jailed for distribution of undesirable content, Viasna reported.

A judge in Novałukoml, Viciebsk region, sentenced surgeon Siarhiej Narejka to 20 days in jail, Viasna reported.

A judge in Minsk sentenced a 52-year-old actor of the Huziki troupe, Andrej Tryzubaŭ, to three years of restricted freedom, a type of house arrest. He was accused of gross disturbance of public order, Viasna reported.

A court in Homiel sentenced Orthodox Christian theologian Andrej Pukanaŭ to two years in prison. He was charged with defamation of Łukašenka, Viasna reported.

“Extremist” content

The Ministry of Internal Affairs labeled the Club 70 group on Telegram as extremist.

The interior ministry added some pages on the Odnoklassniki social network to the register of “extremist” content. They include Novosti Belarusi ot REFORM.BY, Rehijanalnaja Hazieta, Naš Drahičyn, and others. At the request of Minsk’s prosecutors, officials declared Siarhiej Siuzieŭ’s poetry book “Twenty Years of Slavery: Belarus Today” extremist.

As of April 18, human rights defenders identified at least 1,486 political prisoners.