Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

May 5, BPN. Belarus witnessed new cases of politically-motivated persecution on May 4, with authorities targeting citizens for their online activities. The pretext for persecution ranged from social media likes to donations to political causes.

Among the persecuted were an elementary school teacher who was arrested while teaching her class and an engineer who created an architectural database. On the other hand, a former soccer player who publicly condemned post-election violence was released after serving 13 days in jail.

Arrested and released

Police arrested Maryna Korda, an elementary school teacher in Dokšycy, Viciebsk region, as she was teaching a class, exiled opposition activist Kastuś Šytal wrote on Facebook. Her persecution may be linked to likes on social media.

In April, Minsk police arrested Uładzimir Fišman, an engineer and creator of the Photobuildings.com architectural database, Naša Niva reported. Authorities said Fišman signed up to the opposition’s Pieramoha Plan, but did not disclose the exact charges against him. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Authorities released Alaksandr Jackievič, a former FC Krumkačy soccer player after he had served 13 days in jail, Tribuna reported. Police arrested him in connection with a picture that he had posted to publicly condemn post-election violence in 2020.

Criminal proceedings

Valeryj Ramanoŭski, accused of high treason, is on trial at the Viciebsk Regional Court, Mediazona reported. Authorities closed the proceedings to the public. A state-run TV channel described him as “a former head of air reconnaissance” who reportedly passed secret information to Lithuanian security forces.

Bartender Hleb Vietaškin went on trial in Homiel on charges of inciting hatred and participating in protests, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Other instances of persecution

The Minsk City Court will hear appeals by Aksana Zareckaja, a member of the Coordinating Council for Political Crisis Settlement, and advertising specialist Bahdan Karaviec on May 19. In March they were sentenced to 18 months and two years in prison, respectively, in connection with peaceful post-election protests.

The Supreme Court will hear an appeal by jailed reporter Andrej Pačobut (Andrzej Poczobut) on May 26, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) said. On February 8, the Hrodna Regional Court sentenced Pačobut, a Polish minority activist, to eight years in prison on charges of inciting hatred and seeking to undermine national security.

Alexei Moskalev, a Russian national arrested in Belarus and extradited to Russia, complained of severe beating by Belarusian security officers, the Russian human rights group OVD-Info reported.

Belarusian authorities blocked access to Intex-Press, the Baranavičy-based local news website, citing multiple violations of the media law, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported. On April 29, a judge labeled Intex-Press and its social media “extremist” content.

New political prisoners

Belarusian human rights groups labeled Andrej Baranaŭ, Anton Ohij, Uładzislaŭ Papoŭ, Viktoryja Haŭrylina and Arciom Labiedźka as political prisoners. They were persecuted for donations to political causes or contributions to independent media, which judges interpreted as extremism.

As of May 5, human rights defenders identified at least 1,499 political prisoners.