Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

May 2, BPN. Human rights defenders and media have reported new arrests and sentences in Belarus on April 29, 30 and May 1 as its government continues its relentless crackdown on its critics and political opponents.

Since March, police have been arresting people in Bierazino, Minsk region, on suspicion that they participated in protests during and after the 2020 presidential election or sympathize with the opposition, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Some of the detainees have been reportedly jailed for 15 days and may face criminal charges.

Police also carried out arrests across Belarus in the early hours of April 29, targeting railway workers among others, Dissidentby reported.

In Hrodna, police arrested Arciom Ščypakin for allegedly contacting the opposition Pieramoha chatbot and writing critical online comments about Belarusian police and Russian military, Sudy, Zaderzhania. Grodno i Oblast, a Telegram channel monitoring politically-motivated persecution in Hrodna and the Hrodna region, said.

Pavieł Ampliejeŭ from Skidziel, Hrodna region, is under arrest for sharing opposition content, Haradzienskaja Pravaabarona said.

Opposition activist Valancina Bołbat was hospitalized after police had taken her into custody in Vierchniadźvinsk, Viciebsk region, volunteer Illa Mironaŭ reported.

Authorities released Alaksiej Hajšun on April 29 after he had served 18 months in prison for alleged participation in protests, the Homiel branch of Viasna said.

Appeals rejected

The Supreme Court rejected appeals by former MTBank employees Ina Hlinskaja and her daughter Valeryja Hlinskaja, Viasna reported. In January, a district judge sentenced them to seven and six and a half years in prison, respectively. Their persecution is related to Chernaya Kniga Belarusi (Eng.: Black Book of Belarus), an online project exposing the identities of security officers who mistreated and brutalized peaceful protesters.

Criminal proceedings

A district court in Mahiloŭ sentenced jailed blogger Uładzimir Cyhanovič to one more year in prison for allegedly disobeying prison authorities, Viasna said. Cyhanovič, who ran the MozgON YouTube channel, is currently serving a 16-year prison term on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Authorities also used a similar charge to prolong the prison term for opposition activist Alena Hnaŭk, 66, from Pružany, Brest region. She was originally sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

A district court in Minsk sentenced blogger Ivan Marozaŭ and his girlfriend Hanna Kavalova to 18 months in prison over 2020 protests.

On May 5, jailed Vasil Dzemidovič, 71, will go on a new trial at the Puchavičy District Court, Minsk region, for allegedly insulting public officials. The man had been previously sentenced to six and a half years in prison on similar charges, while the outcome of his second trial still remains unknown. On April 20, a district court in Homiel started hearing another case against him linked to insulting a judge and a public official. Meanwhile, the Committee for State Security (KGB) blacklisted Dzemidovič as a person “involved in terrorist activities.”

Lawyer Alaksiej Barodka will go on trial in Minsk on May 15 for allegedly inciting hatred. The Minsk Regional Bar Association disbarred him following his arrest in late January.

New criminal cases

Police accused Arciom Labiedźka of funding extremist activities, BPN reported. He has been held in jail since March 28 for alleged minor offenses. His father, prominent exiled Belarusian opposition politician Anatol Labiedźka, described his son’s arrest as revenge for his father’s political activity.

Jailed businessman Viktar Łamieka from Zelva, Hrodna region, faces charges of slandering Alaksandr Łukašenka, MAYDAY.TEAM reported. He was reportedly severely beaten during his arrest on March 29.

Prison conditions

Authorities transferred Vital Mielnik to Penal Colony No 13 in Hłybokaje, Viciebsk region, Viasna reported. He is currently serving a 13-year prison term for an alleged act of sabotage carried out in protest against Russia’s assault on Ukraine, according to Viasna. Police shot him in the knees during the arrest and he is still using crutches to move around.

Jailed Hrodna student Andrej Hierasimovič was placed in a punishment cell at Babrujsk Penal Colony No 2, Mahiloŭ region, where he is serving a two-and-a-half-year prison term over protests.

As of May 2, human rights defenders identified at least 1,497 political prisoners.