Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

June 2, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on June 1 as authorities keep punishing regime critics and supporters of Ukraine.

Arrested and released

Minsk police arrested Roman Catholic seminary student Uładzisłaŭ Bieładzied on May 31, Chryścijanskaja Vizija said.

Police also arrested businessman Uładzimir Tyčynski and two other men described as a “Ukraine support group” in Mahiloŭ, the Belarus 4 TV channel reported accusing them of intentions to mishandle personal data.

Authorities released Alena Anisim, a former MP and ex-head of the outlawed Belarusian Language Society, after she had served 12 days in jail on charges of “disorderly conduct,” BPN reported.

Trials

On May 18, a judge in Orša, Viciebsk region, jailed Aleh Masalski for 10 days for shouting out “Žyvie Biełaruś” (Long Live Belarus) and “Slava Ukraini” (Glory to Ukraine), the Viciebsk branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. It remains unclear whether he has been released.

Criminal proceedings

A production shop head at Homsielmaš, a state-run agricultural equipment company, is currently on trial on charges of high treason, prosecutor Juryj Bułynka told the company workers, the Prosecutor General’s Office said. It has not disclosed any further details but the case reportedly involves extremist charges.

A court in Minsk sentenced Jana C. to two years of restricted freedom in home confinement over 2020 protests, Viasna reported.

A judge in Baranavičy, Brest region, sentenced opposition activist Ihar Šumiłaŭ, to four and a half years in prison on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Former presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka may testify as a witness at the trial of his son, Minskaya Pravda said.

A court in Moscow ruled to hand over a criminal case against opposition activist and Russian national Sofia Sapega, sentenced to six years in prison in Belarus, to a court in Smolensk which will decide on her transfer from Belarus to Russia, TASS reported. 

Other instances of persecution

Authorities blacklisted the Instagram page of Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja as extremist content, a Homiel-based state-owned newspaper reported.

Investigators have not identified those responsible for the death of Mikałaj Klimovič in prison and linked it to his health state, Radyjo Racyja reported. In late February, authorities sent the blogger to prison for one year despite his heart condition which required constant medical care. His family was informed of his death in custody on May 7.

Viasna identified nine minors jailed in politically-motivated cases who celebrated their 18th birthdays in prisons, including Mikita Załataroŭ, Siarhiej Hackievič, Eduard Kudyniuk, Maksim Imchovik, Ivan Paciejčuk, Dzianis Chaziej, Alaksandr Viniarski, Pavieł Piskun and Arciom Vajciachovič.

Jailed human rights defender Valancin Stefanovič, currently serving a nine-year prison term in a Mahiloŭ prison, was sent to clean cables, Radyjo Svaboda reported. This work is considered very unhealthy and disadvantageous among the inmates.

Mass checks of travelers’ smartphones by security officers at border checkpoints should ensure “the timely detection and localization of persons with terrorist and extremist intentions,” state-run media outlets reported citing Ivan Tertel, head of the Committee for State Security (KGB).

As of June 2, human rights defenders identified at least 1,490 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.