Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

April 20, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on April 19.

Arrests

Police arrested Anatol Ščyhaloŭ in Rečyca, Homiel region, the Palesse branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. A Telegram channel linked to police posted a video where he admits under duress to sharing opposition content.

New criminal cases

Police arrested a 29-year-old resident of Masty, Hrodna region, for alleged intentions to join the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment of Belarusian volunteers fighting Russia in Ukraine, Viasna said.

Police sent to prosecutors the case against the Viciebsk art manager and musician Uładzimir Bułaŭski, arrested in December 2022 over 2020 protests, the Viciebsk branch of Viasna reported.

Criminal proceedings

The Hrodna Regional Court sentenced Aleh Zavadski to three and a half years in prison for making negative comments about Alaksandr Łukašenka and calling for violence against the Russian military and the Belarusian law enforcers. In mid-February, the Committee for State Security (KGB) blacklisted him as a person involved in terrorist activities. 

Detention conditions

Authorities may place jailed anarchist activist Jaŭhien Rubaška into internal prison, the electronic court schedule says. In April, he was sentenced to a five-year prison term on charges widely seen as politically-motivated.

Authorities transferred jailed journalist Dźmitryj Siemčanka to the Baranavičy detention center in the Brest region, Viasna reported. The former head of Alaksandr Łukašenka’s press pool at the state-run ONT TV channel is currently serving three in prison on charges of inciting hatred.

Jailed opposition activist Vadzim Hurman may be subjected to torture in prison, Viasna said. The man reportedly developed health issues after spending at least 35 days in solitary confinement. A few days ago prison staff allegedly have been beating him for six hours and poured cold water on him to keep him conscious.

Uładzimir Haroch, currently serving seven years in prison on charges widely seen as politically-motivated, may be transferred to an internal prison after a hearing on April 28.

Other instances of persecution

Switzerland refused the asylum request of Alaksiej Velikasielec who fled Belarus fearing politically-motivated persecution, Novaya Gazeta reported.

Extremist list updates

Authorities blacklisted several opposition social media accounts, including MOST Media with 36,500 subscribers, Zmahar with 10,700 subscribers, and Nerusso Turisto with 49,900 subscribers.

As of April 20, human rights defenders identified at least 1,492 political prisoners.