Update on arrests, politically-motivated persecution

June 12, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on June 10 and 11 as authorities kept arresting potential dissenters.

Arrested and released

Mahiloŭ police arrested opposition activist Alaksandr Chamrataŭ late on June 10, MAYDAY.TEAM reported.

Freelance videographer Jaŭhien Hłuškoŭ was briefly detained on the same evening at a concert of a Russian pop singer who supports Russia’s war on Ukraine. Police officers deleted all photos from his smartphone, according to MAYDAY.TEAM.

Natalla Bohuš from Minsk has been under arrest since June 7, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Authorities accuse her of participating in protests.

Police arrested at least five persons during a puppet theatre show in the Pružany district, Brest region, Viasna reported.

Authorities released Dzianis Hrachanaŭ after he had served a cumulative term of three years in prison for drawing protest graffiti in 2020 and allegedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka.

New political prisoners

Belarusian human rights groups labeled 15 people as political prisoners on June 10, BPN reported. Additions include people accused or convicted on charges of gross violations of public order.

Other instances of persecution

Human rights activist Illa Mironaŭ left Belarus and is currently in Lithuania, his Facebook page said. Authorities persecuted him on charges of discrediting the state and sharing opposition content.

As of June 12, human rights defenders identified at least 1,495 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.