Połack history professor freed after 15 days in jail

June 7, BPN. Authorities have released Viktar Čaraŭko, associate professor of history at Połack State University (PSU), after he had served 15 days in jail, a local source told BPN, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Police arrested him on May 23 in a large raid in Połack, Viciebsk region, along with over a dozen PSU staff members for allegedly sharing opposition content.

Two days after the raid on the university, a judge in Połack sent Alaksandr Šaŭcoŭ, a Greek Catholic priest, to jail for 15 days on similar charges.

Authorities freed jailed PSU lecturers Siarhiej Hłazyryn and Siarhiej Rykun on June 5 and their colleague Alena Chramcova, on June 2.

The crackdown on university staff came days after police arrested and jailed several doctors from the Navapołack City Hospital following a leak about the hospitalization of former presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka. Five of them were punished with jail terms.

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.