Two Połack professors sentenced to 15 days in jail for sharing opposition content

May 24, BPN. A district judge has sentenced two Połack State University scholars to 15 days in jail for alleged distribution of extremist content, a source told BPN.

Law professor Siarhiej Hłazyryn and history professor Viktar Čaraŭko were tried on May 23, and are currently serving their sentences at the Połack detention center, said the source, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

They were arrested along with over a dozen of their colleagues in the cities of Połack and Navapołack, Viciebsk region, on the same day. The trials are expected to continue on May 24.

Połack State University’s foreign language instructor Alena Chramcova was said to be accused of following an opposition Telegram channel. Police searched her home and confiscated her electronic devices. Another university employee, Lidzija Zujeva, was released before trial scheduled for May 24.

On May 17, police arrested and jailed several doctors from the Navapołack City Hospital. In late March, another series of arrests targeted local history museum workers. Some of them served jail terms for alleged minor offenses, including subscribing to and sharing content critical of the government.