{"id":105459,"date":"2024-09-18T11:41:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T08:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/105459\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-another-group-convicted-over-2020-protests-in-brest","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/105459\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: another group convicted over 2020 protests in Brest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September 18, <\/strong>Pozirk<\/strong>.<\/em> New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on September 17 as five people were given prison terms in Brest for participating in 2020 postelection protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hienad\u017a Vasiluk, serving an 18-month prison term for defaming Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, was given two years; his wife Hanna Vasiluk, one year; Dzianis Andra\u0161\u010duk, Mika\u0142aj Pratasievi\u010d and Raman Parfiona\u016d, 18 months each, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police also briefly detained two men for participating in 2020 protest rallies, a pro-government source said. Both were underage four years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

A man was arrested for posting anti-war comments and criticizing Belarusian authorities online, a pro-government source said. Charges against him remain unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vieranika Makar\u010dyk, Hanna Kavale\u016dskaja, Hanna \u017delazo\u016dskaja and Siarhiej \u017dvirblu were tried in the Hrodna region for sharing opposition content, the Pravo Imeyut <\/em>Telegram channel reported. The verdicts remain unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Former high-ranking police officer D\u017amitryj Pierato\u0142\u010dyn is on trial in Brest on high treason charges, Viasna said. Authorities also accuse him of failing to report a crime but did not disclose any further details. In the past, the man had already served three and a half years in prison for fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExtremist\u201d list update<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interior ministry said it branded the Adukavanka education project as an extremist group. The designation covers adukavanka.org<\/em>, adukavanka.by <\/em>and all associated social media accounts and chatbots. Authorities identified Kaciaryna Kukso and Alena Miel\u010danka as members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Police searched the home of Mika\u0142aj Stahurski’s mother and seized her cell phone, Flagshtok<\/em> reported. The man is currently based abroad. Two years ago, the Committee for State Security reportedly tried to recruit him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Propagandist Raman Pratasievi\u010d posted the names of 20 prisoners recently pardoned by Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, authorities also pardoned and released Natalla Taran, 76, who was serving three and a half years in prison for online comments, Mediazona<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of September 18, human rights defenders identified at least 1,330 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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