{"id":104245,"date":"2024-09-10T11:48:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T08:48:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/104245\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-authorities-keep-harassing-regime-critics-four-years-after-protests","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/104245\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: new arrests, trials four years after protests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September 10, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> New arrests and trials of 2020 protesters were documented in Belarus from September 7 to 9. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Police arrested brothers Vadzim and Aleh Chil\u010duk in Baranavi\u010dy, Brest region, for allegedly participating in 2020 postelection protests and taking a selfie with opposition politician Pavie\u0142 \u0141atu\u0161ka, a pro-government Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two arrests in Baranavi\u010dy and Minsk were also linked to protests four years ago, Mediazona<\/em> and the Viasna Human Rights Center said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro-government sources reported the arrests of two former servicemen. In a police video, one admitted to burning his uniform in August 2020 in protest against law enforcers’ violence against the protesters, while the other said he left the army four years ago for the same reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

A judge in Biaroza, Brest region, sentenced Mika\u0142aj Ku\u0142ak, Ihar Ja\u016dmiena\u016d (Kul), Andrej Rybako\u016d and Viktar Daniluk to 18 months in prison each on violent disorder charges that authorities use to persecute 2020 protesters, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In late June, Siarhiej Kozika\u016d from \u010ceryka\u016d, Mahilo\u016d region, was given a similar term for defaming the head of state in connection with social media posts critical of Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, MAYDAY.TEAM said. The appeal hearing was scheduled for August 20, but the ruling remains unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u017amitryj Kehelie\u016d and Natalla Antonava are tried in the Mahilo\u016d region and Hrodna, respectively, on charges of defaming \u0141uka\u0161enka, rights groups said. Antonava is also accused of inciting hatred in connection with politically-sensitive social media posts. Last year, she had been given a three-year restricted freedom term in home confinement on protest-related charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalla Mikuli\u010d, known online as a supporter of the current government, stands trial in Minsk on charges of discrediting the state and slander, Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dzianis Andra\u0161\u010duk, Hienad\u017a Vasiluk, Mika\u0142aj Pratasievi\u010d, Raman Parfiona\u016d, Hanna Vasiluk, Kiry\u0142 Rat\u010danko\u016d, Alaksiej \u0160yd\u0142o\u016dski, Arseni Pa\u0161ko, Alaksandar Sierhijevi\u010d and Alaksandar Klutko went on trial in Brest, the Brest branch of Viasna said. All are accused of participating in protest rallies four years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaciaryna Miendryk and Alena Tockaja are on trial in Hrodna and Minsk, respectively, Viasna said. Both women face extremism-related charges for solidarity with political prisoners and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Extremist” list update<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian judges branded Telegraph.news<\/em> and affiliated social media pages as extremist content, Viasna said. Other blacklisted accounts include Rodnoi Luninets<\/em> on Telegram; Gomel Online<\/em>, Minsk Online<\/em>, Lida – Nash Gorod<\/em> on VKontakte; X accounts of opposition politician Franak Via\u010dorka and the Ukrainian services by Deutsche Welle <\/em>and Voice of America<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interior ministry reported 21 new additions to the list of \u201cpersons involved in extremist activities,\u201d with the total of entries reaching 4,396.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

At least 1,777 NGOs, including associations, trade unions and foundations, were dissolved between the 2020 presidential election and late August 2024, Lawtrend said in a report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Monday, a judge in Hrodna was scheduled to hear a case contesting the property sale by journalist Iryna \u010carnia\u016dka, whose husband Pavie\u0142 Ma\u017eejka is imprisoned on charges widely seen as politically motivated, Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> said. No further details are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raman Pratasievi\u010d, the former editor whose arrest by Belarus\u2019 security services involved a passenger plane hijacking, said that he had his huge damages overturned by a court, a pro-government source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of September 10, human rights defenders identified at least 1,355 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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