{"id":109442,"date":"2024-10-15T11:02:12","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T08:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/109442\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"authorities-step-up-reprisals-against-regime-critics-jailed-opponents","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/109442\/","title":{"rendered":"Authorities step up reprisals against regime critics, jailed opponents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

October 15, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> New cases of politically-motivated persecution documented in Belarus last week include at least 21 criminal cases on charges of facilitating extremism for alleged association with opposition groups, the Viasna Human Rights Center said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From October 12 to 14, rights defenders also reported dozens of transfers to prisons of former political prisoners who are serving restricted freedom terms in home confinement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition activist Palina \u0160arenda-Panasiuk went on a new trial yesterday in Re\u010dyca, Homiel region, Viasna reported. Authorities accuse her of disobeying prison administration, a charge under which she had been already given two one-year terms in addition to the two-year prison sentence passed in 2021 on charges of violence against a police officer and insulting officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other criminal proceedings include the trials of Siarhiej Skibinski in Minsk on extremism and protest-related charges and U\u0142adzimir Sitkovi\u010d in Viciebsk for allegedly financing extremism in connection with donations to opposition solidarity groups, according to Viasna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Pro-government sources reported two arrests allegedly linked to participation in 2020 postelection protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Musician Pavel Aku\u0161evi\u010d aka DjBIGACTION was arrested in Lida, Hrodna region, the Pravo Imeyut<\/em> Telegram channel said. The reasons remain unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Extremist” list update<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information ministry reported an extremist content designation for MINSK Barista Hustle<\/em> Telegram chat. Other blacklisted content includes YaMyBOB<\/em> on Telegram, bgmedia_365<\/em>, a2.print<\/em>, kurilinmike13 <\/em>and hub.belastok<\/em> on Instagram as well as Polesskoye Vremechko<\/em> on VKontakte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Authorities sealed the Mahilo\u016d apartment of student activist Anastasija Bu\u0142ybienka, who is currently based abroad, she said on Instagram. Earlier, she had served a prison term in a politically-motivated case linked to 2020 protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exiled senior Ludmi\u0142a Barejka from Hlybokaje, Viciebsk region, who left Belarus three years ago, was pardoned, the Vitebsk, Ya Gulayu! <\/em>Telegram channel said. The woman was tried in absentia and sentenced to two years on defamation charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Homiel region’s law enforcers carried out mass checks of teachers’ and school students’ smartphones in Raha\u010do\u016d, the Homiel branch of Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of October 15, human rights defenders identified at least 1,289 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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