Dozens of Belarusians persecuted on high treason charges – rights group
February 8, Pozirk. At least 55 people have been persecuted in Belarus for alleged high treason, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.
The number includes people already convicted in person or in absentia as well as defendants and people arrested on this charge, which authorities are actively using to harass opponents.
The number of people jailed in politically-motivated cases involving high treason charges rose to 39 from 12 two years ago.
The real number may be higher as such cases are usually heard behind closed doors, as happened with investigative journalist Dzianis Ivašyn whose trial allegedly involved a discussion of state secrets.
Exiled Belarusians convicted of high treason in absentia have no access to the case files, human rights defender Pavieł Sapiełka said, noting violations of their right to defense and other constitutional rights.
Former BelaPAN CEO Andrej Alaksandraŭ and his wife Iryna Złobina are among those sentenced to lengthy prison terms on high treason charges. Rights groups consider them political prisoners, along with jailed BelaPAN editor in chief Iryna Leŭšyna and former CEO Dźmitryj Navažyłaŭ.
- PoliticsBelPol: no evidence of Russian nukes in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus sixth in former Soviet Union’s price growthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition leader at NATO PA: assistance to Belarus to make Europe saferThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPundit: reconciliation trend gaining momentum within oppositionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBrest doctor, five others declared political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja meets US senators, calls for an end to police cooperation with MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights group: wardens seek pardon requests from political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyDefense minister claims young people eager to serve in the armyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: rights activist given seven years in prisonThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCzechia offers treatment, rehabilitation for Belarusian volunteer fighters in UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolish judge who defected to Belarus gets political asylum in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics, SecurityAt least 20 servicemen in detention – rights activistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFive pardoned prisoners namedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsJournalist Ihar Iljaš declared political prisonerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka defends propaganda, threatens information warfareThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition leader visiting Canada, to address NATO PAThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsŁukašenka boasts that he personally authorizes internet shutdownsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Elections, Politics
- PoliticsUS think tank: Russia to control Tor-M2 missile systems in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, PoliticsŁukašenka’s supporter says he collected 100,000 ballot-access signatures for presidential raceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: exiled former Kanapackaja’s associate given prison termThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyPublic sector employees to take on their laid-off colleagues' responsibilities for extra payThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyEconomist plays down fears of rubel collapseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka goes to Pakistan next weekThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, Politics, Security
- Economy, PoliticsPolish trade unionists protest against fertilizer imports from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+