{"id":1430,"date":"2023-08-05T22:43:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-05T19:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/?post_type=articles&p=1430"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"update-on-arrests-trials-politically-motivated-persecution-11","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/1430\/","title":{"rendered":"Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

August 5, BPN.<\/em><\/strong> New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on August 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrests<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Law enforcers arrested a Hrodna resident on suspicion of distributing “extremist” content and signing up for the opposition’s Victory plan (Pieramoha). The man was placed in Hrodna’s detention facility, a pro-government media outlet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August 1, officers of the KGB’s directorate for the Mahilo\u016d region arrested Pavie\u0142 \u0141apika\u016d, a member of the Wonder Spak music band. He is accused of donating money to ByHelp, BySol and ByPol, the opposition groups deemed extremist by the government. \u0141apika\u016d is being held in Mahilo\u016d’s detention facility, a pro-government media outlet reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities arrested a Minsker for signing up for the Victory plan and subscribing to “extremist” Telegram channels, according to a pro-government media outlet. U\u0142adzimir Pa\u016d\u0142aviec was apparently beaten by law enforcers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities arrested Minsk resident Andrej Kruhlo\u016d on suspicion of contacting Victory plan administrators, Na\u0161a Niva reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trials<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On June 15, a judge in the Dubro\u016dna district, Viciebsk region, fined \u015aviat\u0142ana Mata\u0142yhina, a mother of three minors, 370 rubels (about $150) for subscribing to “extremist” social media pages, Viasna Viciebsk reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extremism lists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August 4, the interior ministry added 25 names to the list of people “involved in extremist activities,” bringing the total to 3,111.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A district court in Minsk labeled Varu\u0161ysia, a Telegram channel about education abroad, and its logo “extremist” content, Viasna reported. It attached the same label to Placo\u016dka, a Telegram channel about Belarusian basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Releases<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mayday.Team reported that authorities freed U\u0142adzimir \u0160usta\u016d, a former special task policeman and member of Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka’s security service, from a penal colony in June. A district court in Mahilo\u016d found \u0160usta\u016d guilty of alleged violence against law enforcers during a 2020 protest. The man was sentenced to three years in a minimum-security colony. \u0141uka\u0161enka stripped him of his rank in September 2021. He served his sentence in full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing their sentences in the so-called “round dance case,” political prisoners Radzivon Kandraciuk and Viktar \u0141abko were freed, according to Viasna Brest. The case stemmed from a peaceful protest in September 2020, when demonstrators in Brest blocked an intersection and expressed their dissent by singing songs and performing round dances. Dozens of participants were convicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Authorities transferred Palina \u0160arenda-Panasiuk, serving a three-year sentence, to a detention facility in Homiel, her husband said. Up to that point, her whereabouts were unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A prominent human rights activist fled Belarus, weeks after being released from a penal colony. Leanid Sudalenka served his sentence in full and was freed in in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August 15, the Supreme Court will discuss whether to shut down the opposition United Civic Party (UCP). Its leader Mika\u0142aj Kaz\u0142o\u016d was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment in November 2022 for alleged disorderly conduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August 3, political prisoner Uladzimir Hundar called his relatives from Babrujsk’s penal colony for the first time. The amputee told them that he had received threats from two other inmates. The reason for their hostility remains unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of August 5, human rights defenders identified at least 1,489 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Opposition sources estimate the number of political prisoners at around 5,000.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

August 5, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on August 4. Arrests Law enforcers arrested a Hrodna resident on suspicion of distributing “extremist” content and signing up for the opposition’s Victory plan (Pieramoha). The man was placed in Hrodna’s detention facility, a pro-government media outlet said. On August 1, officers of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[16],"class_list":["post-1430","articles","type-articles","status-publish","hentry","rubric-politics"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUpdate on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"August 5, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on August 4. 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