{"id":103153,"date":"2024-09-03T10:19:20","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T07:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/103153\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-authorities-keep-harassing-2020-protesters-regime-critics","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/103153\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: authorities keep harassing 2020 protesters, regime critics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September 3, <\/strong>Pozirk.<\/strong> <\/em>New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus between August 31 and September 2 with more arrests and trials reported in connection with 2020 postelection protests and criticism of the current authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrests<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police arrested a man from Baranavi\u010dy, Brest region, for describing the interior ministry’s organized crime unit officers as extremists, a pro-government source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same sources reported arrests of a Minsk woman and a man, presumably Maksim Karabak, for participating in 2020 protests. Police also arrested a DSD Insurance employee on similar charges as well as for allegedly posting government-critical comments and sharing information with opposition online initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u017amitryj Maksimuk in Brest and a man in Hrodna are under arrest for participating in protests four years ago, Mediazona<\/em> and the Pravo Imeyut <\/em>Telegram channel reported. In a police video, both admitted to signing up for the opposition Pieramoha Plan and criticizing authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trials<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaciaryna Panasik and Valeryj Masiuk were tried in the Hrodna region as well as Ivan Novika\u016d, Ivan Vieta\u0161kin and at least seven others in the Viciebsk region for allegedly sharing opposition content, the Vitebsk, Ya Gulayu! <\/em>and Pravo Imeyut<\/em> Telegram channels said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criminal proceedings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge in Hrodna sentenced Vadzim Saran\u010duko\u016d, the exiled chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front, to four years in prison on extremism-related charges without the defendant being present, Pravo Imeyut <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trial against former Imaguru startup hub manager Ja\u016dhien Puha\u010d opened in Minsk on Monday, the electronic court schedule said. Exiled co-founders Ta\u0107ciana Maryni\u010d and Anastasija Chamiankova are tried as a part of the same case under special proceedings that target those living abroad and evading contact with investigators. They face at least 10 criminal charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ja\u016dhien K\u0142ada\u016d, serving a one-year prison term for a reaction on social media, went on a new trial in Brest on six criminal charges, the Viasna Human Rights Center said. Rights groups consider his persecution to be politically motivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jailed Arciom \u0141apika\u016d may face tougher detention conditions after a court hearing on Monday, Viasna said. The man is serving a three-year prison term for defaming Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vadzim Sianiuta went on trial in Minsk on protest-related charges. Maryna Hacura is on trial for alleged association with an extremist group and financing extremism in connection with donations to opposition solidarity groups, according to the electronic court schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other cases<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian national Dyjana Maisiejenka was arrested on September 2 at the request of the Belarusian authorities on entering Armenia from Georgia, lawyer Ale\u015b Michalevi\u010d said on Facebook. The woman was released the same day, but she is not allowed to leave Armenia until her extradition case is examined in court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Viciebsk region’s Penal Colony No 3 stopped accepting parcels for inmates citing repair works in the rooms used to receive them, MAYDAY.TEAM reported. Parcels can be mailed but the facility does not accept vitamins in the mail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of September 3, human rights defenders identified at least 1,373 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian authorities have arrested about 65,000 people for political reasons in the four years since the August 2020 presidential election, Viasna reported in early August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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