{"id":122616,"date":"2025-01-21T12:17:44","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T09:17:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/122616\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-truckers-arrested-at-border-ahead-of-presidential-vote","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/122616\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: truckers arrested at border ahead of presidential vote"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Briefly: Thirteen tried across Belarus over online activities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk teacher on trial for participating in protests<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities seize exiled journalist\u2019s house<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

23 percent of political prisoners in vulnerable state<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January 21, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>New cases of politically-motivated persecution documented in Belarus from January 18 to 20 included arrests of at least 20 truck drivers at the border. Authorities looked for subscriptions to opposition content, the Sudy, Zaderzhaniya. Grodno i Oblast <\/em>Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Valeryj Verabjo\u016d, Anton Chamiec, Vital Kisalo\u016d, Yuryj Andru\u015b, Alaksiej Palako\u016d, Andrej Rahaviec, rights defender U\u0142adzimir Cielapun, Michai\u0142 Klacko, Paviel Miad\u017aviedzski, Valeryj H\u0142azuno\u016d and Fiodar Palavy were tried in the Homiel region for sharing opposition content, the Homiel branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksiej Michaj\u0142a\u016d and Michai\u0142 Astapienka were tried on similar charges in the Hrodna region’s Lida and Navahdrudak, respectively, the Pravo Imeyut<\/em> Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Teacher Hanna Padalaka went on trial in Minsk on protest-related charges, Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Homiel region’s local news website Flagshtok<\/em>, blacklisted by the authorities as an extremist group, said the Investigative Committee seized a house from its exiled co-founder Maryja Bu\u0142avinskaja.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police officers visited Ukrainian nationals’ homes in the Homiel region to warn dwellers against committing offences before the presidential election in Belarus, Flagshtok<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights defenders know of at least 282 political prisoners at risk, Viasna said. At least 81 people are seriously ill, eight are disabled, 35 are over 60 years old and 12 have mental disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka pardoned 20 men and three women convicted on extremism-related charges, the Belarusian ruler’s press office reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viktar Prusa\u016d, who was serving a prison term for allegedly threatening violence to a police officer was released last October, Viasna’s Homiel branch said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of January 21, human rights defenders identified at least 1,254 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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