Catholic activist in custody for alleged public disorder

February 3, Pozirk. Investigators have charged Aksana Jučkavič, a former journalist with the Catholic.by website, with a crime against public order, said the Chryścijanskaja Vizija group. She is held at the Žodzina detention center, Minsk region.

The group described Jučkavič as “a well-known and respected Christian activist in the Roman Catholic community.” She was a chorister, a Scout leader and a Polish language instructor at a seminary. “The believer devoted her strength and energy to helping others,” it said.

Jučkavič was arrested on January 23 in a major crackdown on former political prisoners, political prisoners’ relatives and other citizens.

According to the Viasna Human Rights Center, police detained, searched and interrogated more than 200 people, jailed dozens for allegedly sharing extremist content and brought criminal extremism-related charges against several other.

The United States and the European Union have condemned the crackdown.