Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

May 26, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on May 25 with reprisals targeting the Viciebsk region’s university professors, priests and factory workers.

Arrests

Police arrested Alaksandr Šaŭcoŭ, the Belarusian Greek Catholic Church’s priest in Połack, Viciebsk region, BPN reported.

Viciebsk region’s police also arrested Roman Catholic priests Andrej Kulik and Viačasłaŭ Adamovič in Miory, Chryścijanskaja Vizija initiative reported. The reasons remain unclear.

Alaksandr Jaskevič, a driver with the local poultry farm, has been under arrest since May 23 in Baranavičy, Brest region, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. He had been jailed before on politically-motivated charges.

Barys Vitko is under arrest for allegedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka, a pro-government source said. Earlier he had served two years of restricted freedom in home confinement.

Minsk police arrested a man, his wife and her father on charges of participating in 2020 protests, Viasna said.

Viktar Kavaloŭ, Vadzim Ułasaŭ, Valeryj Leśnikoŭ and Juryj Hajčanka were arrested at Naftan oil refinery in Navapołack, Viciebsk region, Naša Niva reported.

Trials

Architecture professor Halina Zacharkina, arrested on May 25 in Navapołack, Viciebsk region, was fined 2,960 rubels (over $1,000), BPN reported. Authorities found her guilty of violating the order of holding mass events and sharing content deemed extremist in Belarus.

Criminal proceedings

A district court in Minsk sentenced Jaŭhien Liviant, a co-founder of the 100 Ballov education center, to three years of restricted freedom in home confinement. His daughter Hanna and son-in-law Mikita Drozd were given the same terms; his wife Julija, daughter Halina and business partner Alaksiej Ivanoŭ, two and a half years of restricted freedom each; Alaksandra Ensajn (Vilčyckaja) 18 months, Narodnaja Vola reported.

As of May 26, human rights defenders identified at least 1,516 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Opposition sources estimate the number of political prisoners at around 5,000.