{"id":112697,"date":"2024-11-05T19:51:39","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T16:51:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/112697\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"over-140-extremism-cases-filed-in-three-months-report","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/112697\/","title":{"rendered":"Over 140 extremism cases filed in three months \u2013 report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November 5, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Belarusian authorities continued to use anti-extremism laws for political reprisals in July\u2013September, Human Constanta said in a report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the human rights group, law enforcers opened at least 142 criminal cases under “extremist” articles of the Criminal Code in the three months. At least 119 sentences were handed down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, taking into account criminal cases opened before July, about 800 human rights violations were documented in connection with the application of anti-extremism laws in the three months. At least 310 sentences were handed down. No fewer than 135 arrests were made under the Administrative Offenses Code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the report, the first death sentence in an extremism\/terrorism case was handed down during this period. Judge Aleh \u0141apieka of the Minsk Regional Court sentenced German national Rico Krieger to execution. Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka later pardoned Krieger, and he was handed over to Germany as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human Constanta also pointed out \u0141uka\u0161enka’s pardons for 115 political prisoners, whose charges included extremism. Despite the pardons, the authorities continue their policy of mass arrests and prosecution of disloyal citizens, it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“More people were arrested than pardoned during the reporting period,” a spokeswoman for the organization said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the report, the authorities blocked more than 5,000 accounts of independent media, NGOs and opposition groups in July\u2013September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"