{"id":126487,"date":"2025-02-15T19:01:37","date_gmt":"2025-02-15T16:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/126487\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"reprisals-former-customs-officers-high-treason-charge-trial-begins","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/126487\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: former customs officer\u2019s high treason charge trial begins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viktar Varabjo\u016d’s closed-door trial<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New additions to the extremist list<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Politically-motivated forced treatment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

February 15, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> The Minsk City Court is holding a closed-door trial for Viktar Varabjo\u016d, a former customs officer, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported yesterday. Prosecutors have charged him with high treason, abuse of power, violent disorder, supporting extremism and creating an extremist group.

Also on Friday, officials added 18 people to the extremist list. They are: A\u0142a Kisiel, Ihar Majsiejenka, Viktoryja Husarava, Alaksiej Horyn, Siarhiej Kaburnieje\u016d, Maksim Pa\u0142onski, Elina \u0141apuchina, Alaksiej Nazaranka, Raman Za\u015bko, D\u017amitryj Davidovi\u010d, Pavie\u0142 L\u0430ona\u016d, Juryj Bie\u0142y, Volha Bie\u0142aja, Ivan and D\u017amitryj Piskunovi\u010d, Pavie\u0142 Rastarhuje\u016d, Hanna Chvacik and U\u0142adzis\u0142a\u016d Na\u015bciu\u0161kin. The list on the interior ministry website contains 4,948 entries.

A former husband of Kry\u015bcina Cimano\u016dskaja, the Belarusian sprinter who fled from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to Poland, said that he has returned to Belarus and is ready to cooperate with investigators. This is according to a livestream by the propagandist Ryhor Azaronak. Earlier, the Investigative Committee opened a probe against the husband, Arsie\u0144 Zdanievi\u010d.

At least 33 people have been sent for forced treatment<\/a> for political reasons since 2020, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported yesterday. Not less than 23 people are undergoing such treatment now.

Some human rights violations committed by the Belarusian government amount to crimes against humanity, UN experts stated<\/a> in a new report.

Earlier, on Tuesday, a Minsk court declared the collection of stories \u201cWarm\u201d by imprisoned Christian nationalist \u0179micier Da\u0161kievi\u010d to be extremist. The book was published 12 years ago. In addition, the court labeled two books by former MP Siarhiej Navum\u010dyk\u2014\u201c1992\u201d and \u201c1993\u201d\u2014as extremist. It also gave this status to the VIA\u010cORKA, \u0141ukabiek and Paca-Vaca Telegram channels and several other web pages, the information ministry reported.

As of February 15, human rights defenders identified at least 1,226 current political prisoners, but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Belarusian authorities have arrested about 65,000 people for political reasons in the four years since the August 2020 presidential election, Viasna reported six months ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reprisals: Belarusians\u2019 online activities in focus<\/h3>\n
Briefly: Man wanted in Viciebsk region for insulting \u0141uka\u0161enka online IT specialist given nine years in prison for donations to blacklisted opposition group Vkontakte group administrator from H\u0142ybokaje sentenced to restricted freedom Investigators launch probe against former athlete upon his …<\/div>\n \n