{"id":110542,"date":"2024-10-22T11:53:15","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T08:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/110542\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-target-artists-and-online-dissenters","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/110542\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals target artists and online dissenters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

October 22, <\/strong>Pozirk.<\/strong> <\/em>New cases of politically-motivated persecution documented in Belarus from October 19 to 21 include arrests of actors from the Minsk-based Belarusian National Drama Theater, which was forced to cancel three shows last week, the Viasna Human Rights Center said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In another development, Minsk authorities banned a Comedy-Art\u2019s production at the request of the church-run morality council, Pozirk<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

A mother of three is under arrest in Or\u0161a, Viciebsk region, for posting more than 600 online comments criticizing law enforcers and Alaksandsar \u0141uka\u0161enka, MAYDAYMog reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iryna Ka\u0161ko, Alena Kalenik, Vieranika Dabry\u0142ka, Ihar Siamionka and Alena Hil were tried in the Hrodna region for sharing opposition content, the Pravo Imeyut <\/em>Telegram channel said. The sentences remain unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information ministry reported extremist content designations for Posledniy Russkiy \/ The Last Russian<\/em> and LES BELARUSSES EN FRANCE<\/em> Telegram channels, gomelsociety<\/em> on Instagram, Andrei Verenich<\/em> on Odnoklassniki and Belarusian Canadian Alliance<\/em> on Facebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

A judge in Mahilo\u016d upheld the three-year prison sentence for U\u0142adzimir Para\u0161ko\u016d, convicted of defaming the head of state in connection with social media posts critical of \u0141uka\u0161enka, MAYDAYMog said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ihar Hara\u010dka went on trial in Hrodna on charges of abusing state symbols, insulting \u0141uka\u0161enka and association with an extremist group, Pravo Imeyut<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valeryj Miafodziejenka’s trial opened in Viciebsk yesterday, Viasna reported. The man is accused of financing extremism and terrorism in connection with donations to opposition solidarity groups. On the same day, rights groups labelled him a political prisoner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vital \u010copik is on trial in Brest after spending seven months in custody, Viasna said. Authorities accuse him of violent disorder and facilitating extremism for alleged association with opposition groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maksim Chva\u0161\u010dynski was given seven years in prison in late September after a Mahilo\u016d judge found him guilty of insulting \u0141uka\u0161enka and association with an extremist group, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Volha Peciukievi\u010d and her husband Andrej were arrested for participating in 2020 postelection protests, according to Viasna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Activist D\u017amitryj Rezanovi\u010d, serving a lengthy prison term in a politically-motivated case, was placed in a closed prison cell for six months in late September, the Pravo na Vosstaniye<\/em> Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family members of inmates held at the Brest region’s Penal Colony No 22 were denied visits as they arrived at the facility last Friday, MAYDAY TEAM reported. Prison authorities cited errors in scheduling.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of October 22, human rights defenders identified at least 1,299 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Yesterday, rights groups added eight more people to the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian authorities filed 7,400 politically-motivated criminal cases in the four years since the August 2020 presidential election, Viasna reported last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n