Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

May 16, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on May 15 with participation in protests being the most common charge.

Arrested and released

Police arrested a man in the Brest region for participating in 2020 protests and sharing information about military equipment routes with opposition groups, the Brest branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Artisan Aleh Zajac is under arrest since March 29 for participating in protests, dissidentby.com reported. The Committee for State Security (KGB) agents also searched his apartment.

Arrested videographer Maksim Chekała admitted under duress in a police video to hanging out white-red-white flags and ribbons in his Minsk neighborhood, Naša Niva reported.

Authorities released businesswoman Ludmiła Kirylenka from Rahačoŭ, Homiel region, after she had served 18 months in prison for participating in protests, Viasna reported.

Criminal proceedings

Art manager and musician Uładzimir Bulaŭski went on trial at the Pieršamaiski District Court in Viciebsk. Authorities accuse him of repeatedly violating the order of holding mass events. Human rights groups consider him a political prisoner.

Lawyer Alaksiej Barodka is on trial at the Minsk City Court on charges of inciting hatred.

Maksim Drabnica will go on trial in Homiel on May 26. He faces charges of organizing and participating in terrorist group activities as well as establishing and participating in an extremist group.

The Supreme Court will consider opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja’s appeal on June 20, BPN reported. Authorities sentenced her to 15 years in prison without her being present at the trial on charges of high treason and conspiracy.

As of May 16, human rights defenders identified at least 1,483 political prisoners.