{"id":112769,"date":"2024-11-06T12:14:03","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T09:14:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/112769\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-dozens-arrested-in-last-weeks-mass-raids","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/112769\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: dozens arrested in last week’s mass raids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November 6, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Last week\u2019s mass raids across Belarus resulted in at least 80 arrests, zerkalo.io<\/em> reported. The Viasna Human Rights Center also recorded searches and first-time arrests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among others, police targeted members of the outlawed Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada), the party said on Telegram. Most of the arrested were released after signing non-disclosure agreements. Police reportedly used a new approach towards the arrests, cutting cell phone services for the victims and their family members shortly before raids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a separate development, police arrested singer Ivan Vabi\u0161\u010devi\u010d aka Dyadya Vania, Na\u0161a Niva <\/em>reported. The reasons remain unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Three residents of Or\u0161a, Viciebsk region, were tried yesterday for sharing opposition content, including history teacher Natalla Sizincava, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maryna Du\u0161ucina and Natalla Rabryjeva were tried in the Hrodna region on similar charges, the Pravo Imeyut<\/em> Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities organized a show trial of Juryj Par\u0161ko in Lepiel, Viciebsk region, the Vitebsk, Ya Gulayu <\/em>Telegram channel said. The man faces charges of sharing opposition content and violating the order of holding mass events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information ministry reported extremist content designations for Grustniy Kolenka<\/em> on VKontakte, Bie\u0142aruski Hajun<\/em> on YouTube, Grec Company Group<\/em> on TikTok as well as Instagram pages by the ByPol opposition group and the CiesnaBrama store. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October, Belarusian law enforcers shot at least 47 videos, forcing people arrested for posting online comments or participating in protests to confess to committing offenses, Mediazona<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Michai\u0142 La\u0161kievi\u010d, Illa Mielni\u010duk and D\u017amitryj Maksimuk went on trial in Brest on protest-related charges, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Minsk judge sentenced plasterer Andrej Savicki to three years in prison for denying genocide against the Belarusian people during World War II and insulting the head of state, SB. Belarus Segodnya<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

At least 1,838 nonprofits, including associations, trade unions and foundations, were dissolved between the 2020 presidential election and the end of October 2024, according to Lawtrend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities continued to use anti-extremism laws for political reprisals in July\u2013September, filing at least 143 extremism-related cases and passing 119 sentences, Human Constanta reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2020, more than 1,200 people have been convicted of insulting or defaming the head of state in connection with social media posts critical of Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights groups designated 14 people as political prisoners. They all are persecuted for participating in 2020 postelection protests, Viasna noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of November 6, human rights defenders identified at least 1,312 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/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 said last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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