{"id":104581,"date":"2024-09-12T11:34:11","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T08:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/104581\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-trials-of-2020-protesters-continue-across-belarus","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/104581\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: trials of 2020 protesters continue across Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September 12, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>New cases of politically-motivated persecution documented in Belarus on September 11 included more trials and arrests on protest-related charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Siarhiej Filimona\u016d, Ihar Varanovi\u010d, Alaksandar \u0160tyk, U\u0142adzis\u0142a\u016d Piskunovi\u010d, Vital Hira, Ja\u016dhien Mielni\u010duk and D\u017amitryj Postnika\u016d are on trial in Brest for participating in 2020 protest rallies, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u017amitryj Sidarenka is tried in Homiel on charges of defaming the head of state in connection with social media posts critical of Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, inciting hatred and violent disorder, a charge linked to 2020 protests, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police arrested Viktar Tarasievi\u010d for participating in protests and criticizing authorities online, pro-government sources said. The man has recently returned from Poland. His brother is reportedly serving a prison term for similar actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities also continue punishing solidarity with political prisoners with at least 16 trials scheduled for this month targeting women arrested during a large raid in January, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some had already been sentenced to jail terms and fines on minor charges, while several dozen others face criminal charges of association with an extremist group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online content<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities branded the povestka.pro<\/em> Instagram page and logo as extremist content. The information ministry also reported extremist designations for madeinmiensk<\/em>, 2024 calendar <\/em>and beldesant<\/em> on Instagram; Viktoryia Fiodarava<\/em>, Free Belarus<\/em>, Ser<\/em>, People’s Embassy of Belarus in Slovenia<\/em> and Ch\u0142opiec u \u0161ortach<\/em> on X; news24 tv<\/em> and SIGMA<\/em> on TikTok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Jailed opposition activist Palina \u0160arenda-Panasiuk was placed in a punishment cell for 10 days at Homiel\u2019s pre-trial detention center following her transfer from a detention facility in Re\u010dyca, Homiel region, Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ta\u0107ciana Kanie\u016dskaja, an activist serving a six-year sentence for her role in \u015aviatlana \u0421ichanouskaja\u2019s 2020 presidential campaign, was transferred back to Homiel\u2019s Penal Colony No 4 after spending two years and seven months in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights groups know the names of 14 of 30 prisoners recently pardoned by \u0141uka\u0161enka, including EPAM manager Dyjana Zavadskaja, businesswoman Viktoryja Ha\u016drylina and Mothers-328 activist Maryna Kisialevi\u010d, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge in Warsaw ruled to release Belarusian national Darja Astapienka, given 20 months in prison on espionage charges, Belsat <\/em>reported. The woman was accused of collecting information about organizations linked to the Belarusian opposition for the Committee for State Security (KGB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of September 12, human rights defenders identified at least 1,347 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

\n\n
\n \"\"