Update on trials, politically-motivated persecution

July 7, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on July 6 as authorities keep filing charges linked to online activity and participation in protests against vote rigging in the 2020 presidential election.

Criminal proceedings

On June 22, a judge in Pinsk, Brest region, sentenced Kirył Barysaŭ to two years of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility for allegedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka, the Brest branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center said.

A week later, Taćciana Załatar was given one year of restricted freedom in home confinement on charges of participating in protests, Viasna reported.

Former lawyer Julija Jurhilevič will go on trial together with journalist Pavieł Mažejka on July 10, Viasna said. Authorities accuse them of facilitating extremism.

A judge in Navapołack, Viciebsk region, fined Kaciaryna Leŭ 3,700 rubels (over $1,200) and sentenced her to two years in prison for allegedly insulting a public official, according to Viasna.

Trials

The Lozna District Court in the Viciebsk region fined Mikita Biełavusaŭ, an employee at Naftan oil refinery, 1,110 rubels (some $360) for sharing opposition content, Viasna reported. The court also ordered the confiscation of his smartphone.

Extremist lit update

Authorities blacklisted the Dobrushskiy kray Telegram channel as well as the belbostan, belarusea and bialorusini.krakow Instagram accounts as extremist content, the interior ministry reported.

Other instances of persecution

Jailed opposition activist Palina Šarenda-Panasiuk was transferred from a mental health facility to Minsk’s Detention Center No 1 following psychiatric tests, her husband Andrej Šarenda said on Facebook.

On July 7, a court may decide on tougher conditions for jailed Siarhiej Traciuk, currently serving a four-year prison term over protests, Viasna reported. He may be transferred from a penal colony to a closed prison for the third of his term. 

As of June 7, human rights defenders identified at least 1,493 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.