Associate professor, Greek Catholic priest arrested in Navapołack

May 25, BPN. This morning, police in Navapołack, Viciebsk region, arrested 76-year-old Halina Zacharkina, associate professor at Połack State University’s architecture and design department, and Alaksandr Šaŭcoŭ, the Belarusian Greek Catholic Church’s priest in Połack, a source has told BPN.

“Now they are being interrogated as ‘witnesses’ in a criminal case, so that police could carry out a search and seize their equipment. After that, they would be brought to court and receive jail terms or fines,” the source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

Four PSU associate professors have been detained or arrested so far for following media outlets or posting content critical of the government.

Halina Šarahłazava, 73, chair of the geodesy department, and Alona Chramcova, a world literature instructor, were sentenced to 10 days in jail. Both rulings were made by judge Zinaida Bałabołava yesterday.

Over dozen PSU staff members were arrested in Połack and Navapołack this week. They included Siarhiej Hłazyryn, an associate professor of public administration, and Viktar Čaraŭko, an associate professor of history. Both were sentenced to 15 days.

A few days earlier, law enforcers also arrested employees of Navapołack Central City Hospital. Five of them were sentenced to jail terms of 10 to 15 days.

In March, authorities arrested employees of Połack’s history and culture museum. Some of them were jailed under the Administrative Offences Code.