Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

June 3, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on June 2 with 23 new names on the political prisoners list.

Arrested and released

Police arrested Dzijana Choładava upon her return to Belarus from Russia and accused her of participating in 2020 protests, a pro-government source said.

Photographer Jaŭhien Buzuk was arrested in Hrodna, Hrodna.life reported. Authorities say he volunteered to help Ukrainian refugees in Poland and accused him of sharing opposition content.

Authorities released Alena Chramcova, a lecturer at Połack State University, after she had served 10 days in jail, BPN reported. Police searched her home, confiscated all her electronic devices and arrested her on May 23 during a large raid in Navapołack, Viciebsk region, for following an opposition Telegram channel.

Trials

A judge in Połack, Viciebsk region, jailed Alaksandr Šaŭcoŭ, a Greek Catholic priest, for 30 days for allegedly violating the order of holding mass events, Chryścijanskaja Vizija said. The priest is currently serving a 15-day jail term for sharing opposition content.

Uładzisłaŭ Bieładzied was jailed for 15 days on similar charges. He is a catechist and not a Roman Catholic seminary student as reported earlier. 

Vital Sałamažecki from the Deti Khrushchevok rock band was jailed for seven days for storing his band records that had been branded extremist content, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Authorities fined a man in Baranavičy, Brest region, 740 rubels (over $250) for wearing a T-shirt with the logo of Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment of Belarusian volunteers fighting Russia in Ukraine.

Criminal proceedings

The Minsk City Court sentenced Alaksandr Kandraciuk, a genetics researcher at the National Academy of Sciences and trade union activist, to three and a half years in prison for online comments, salidarnast.info reported.

A court in Lida, Hrodna region, sentenced Sciapan Jakuć to 18 months in prison over protests, insulting public officials and Alaksandr Łukašenka, Viasna reported.

Authorities sentenced Taćciana Radčanka to two years of restricted freedom in home confinement over 2020 protests; Alaksiej Ciuškievič, to 18 months; Kaciaryna Novikava, to three years, according to Viasna.

Former special forces soldier Dźmitryj Hudziejeŭ has been on trial in Minsk since May 25. He is charged with forming terrorist and extremist organizations. Authorities blacklisted Hudziejeŭ as a terrorist but have not disclosed any further details of his case, Viasna said.

Maksim Drabnica, 22, also on a terrorist register, is on trial in Homiel. Authorities accuse him of participating in military operations in a foreign country and forming a terrorist organization, Viasna reported.

Businessman Tomasz Biaroza, allegedly a Polish national, will go on trial in Brest on June 14 on charges of espionage, according to Viasna.

Other instances of persecution

Jailed opposition activist Aksana Zareckaja was in a coma for at least three days, Viasna said. On March 16, Zareckaja was taken to hospital from Minsk Detention Center No 1 where she reportedly did not have access to proper medical care. Two days prior to her hospitalization, she was given 18 months in prison in connection with the 2020 post-election protests.

Alena Anisim, a former MP and ex-head of the outlawed Belarusian Language Society, was fired from the Academy of Sciences after her release from jail where she had served 12 days on charges of disorderly conduct, Narodnaja Vola reported.

Authorities allowed jailed journalist Siarhiej Sacuk to do easier work at Mahiloŭ’s penal colony citing health reasons. Sacuk is currently serving an eight-year prison term on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Jailed opposition activist Uładzimir Hundar, 62, was placed in a punishment cell for 10 days at Prison No 1 in Hrodna, Viasna said. He temporarily lost his hearing during his previous stay at a punishment cell. Authorities sentenced him to a total of 20 years in prison for his role in an alleged plot to overthrow the government.

New political prisoners

Belarusian human rights community labeled 23 people as political prisoners. The most common charges against them include insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka or public officials as well as participating in protests.

As of June 3, human rights defenders identified at least 1,513 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.