Opposition activist Šarenda-Panasiuk faces new charge

May 21, Pozirk. Palina Šarenda-Panasiuk, an outspoken critic of Belarus’ authoritarian government, may be given another year in prison in addition to two extra-years she has served already and two years of her original sentence given in connection with her political activity.
A new criminal case has been opened, her husband Andrej Šarenda said on Facebook.
“Palina is at Homiel’s Pre-Trial Detention Center No .3. . . . What is happening to Palina is humiliation, torture and gradual killing,” he said.
Mediazona reported that she has been accused of defying prison administration orders, the charge routinely used by authorities to keep opponents in prisons longer.
The news came as a major setback for her family who were expecting her to be released on May 21.
The human rights group Dissidentby reported on May 2 that the Rečyca District Court in the Homiel region placed her under preventive supervision, a measure usually applied to people released from prison.
In late March, a state-run TV channel reported that Šarenda-Panasiuk appealed to Alaksandar Łukašenka for pardon.
Her husband made it clear that the move was prompted by ill-treatment: the activist spent a long time in punishment cells and was deprived of food and medicine parcels.
In June 2021, the woman was given two years in prison after the judge found her guilty ofviolence against a police officer and insulting officials. She subsequently received two additional one-year sentences for allegedly disobeying the prison administration.
Human rights organizations consider Šarenda-Panasiuk a political prisoner.
Opposition leader calls for support of political prisoners on solidarity day
- EconomyRubel rises against US dollar at cash exchange offices in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SportWorld Taekwondo Council allows Belarusian athletes to compete under their flagThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyFires claim 129 lives since year's startThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPoland reports another airspace incident involving BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecuritySecurity Council chief: first stage of surprise drill completedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyTwo Belarusians to stand trial in Poland over air smuggling chargesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition leader marks 34th anniversary of Belarus joining OSCEThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusian banks’ profits up 24 percent in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, PoliticsBerlin seeks to shield personal data of Belarusian aid recipientsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- PoliticsLithuania's top diplomat dismisses talks with Minsk as unrealisticThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyIndividuals’ debt on loans up by nearly 14 percent in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyFive taxi company executives charged over “gray wages” schemeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyAgriculture ministry reports record food export growth in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterior ministry blacklists Belarusians’ association in northern PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEU Commissioner Kubilius opposes easing sanctions on BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsInterior ministry adds 12 to list of extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics



