{"id":160847,"date":"2025-10-21T12:33:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T09:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/160847\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-more-regime-critics-face-high-treason-extremism-related-charges","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/160847\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: more regime critics face high-treason,\u00a0extremism-related charges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

October 21,\u00a0Pozirk<\/em>.\u00a0<\/strong>New instances of\u00a0politically-motivated\u00a0persecution were documented in Belarus between October 18 and 20, including\u00a0high treason charges against journalist\u00a0Pavie\u0142\u00a0Dabravolski\u00a0in connection with his professional activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ihar Brodka, former rescue worker in\u00a0Smilavi\u010dy, Minsk region, was convicted of high treason and\u00a0facilitating\u00a0extremism,\u00a0Na\u0161a\u00a0Niva<\/em>\u00a0reported. The sentence\u00a0remains\u00a0unknown. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian national Vasil\u00a0Kra\u016d\u010duk\u00a0was arrested in Russia\u2019s St. Petersburg, the Viasna Human Rights Center said. Three years\u00a0ago,\u00a0a judge in Pinsk, Brest region, sentenced him\u00a0to two years of restricted freedom in home confinement for allegedly insulting officials.\u00a0The man was wanted after fleeing Belarus following his sentencing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Natalla Vasiljeva, 65, was given four years in prison on charges of inciting hatred, insulting Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and his officials and calling for sanctions, Viasna reported.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homiel\u00a0businessman\u00a0D\u017amitryj\u00a0Halco\u016d\u00a0was convicted of\u00a0facilitating\u00a0extremism,\u00a0Viasna\u00a0said. Rights defenders assume that his persecution is linked to the\u00a0Bie\u0142aruski\u00a0Hajun case\u00a0as authorities\u00a0seek\u00a0to punish people who shared information on Russian equipment movements in Belarus with the now-defunct opposition initiative.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge in Mahilo\u016d tried Iryna Niadbajla for allegedly calling for sanctions, the Homiel branch of Viasna said. Her husband Pavie\u0142 Niadbaj\u0142a is serving a lengthy prison term on charges widely seen as politically motivated.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Siarhiej\u00a0Kiebiec, chief engineer at a construction company in Homiel region\u2019s Mazyr, was found guilty of\u00a0facilitating\u00a0extremism, Viasna said. The sentences in both cases remain unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hrodna region\u2019s prosecutors have forwarded to court a criminal case against Maksim \u0160abucki, ex-fighter of the Kastu\u015b Kalino\u016dski Regiment and ex-member of the opposition Coordination Council, the Prosecutor General\u2019s office reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blacklisted content<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information ministry announced extremist content designations for an anti-\u0141uka\u0161enka\u00a0sticker pack,\u00a0Telegram channels linked to opposition politician Pavie\u0142\u00a0\u0141atu\u0161ka\u00a0and the For Freedom movement, the Facebook page by\u00a0the Belarusian\u00a0cultural society\u00a0in Lithuania and\u00a0Mo\u0142adzievy\u00a0Nastup\u00a0on Instagram.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of October 21, human rights defenders identified at least 1,233 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because of many undocumented cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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