{"id":169028,"date":"2025-12-20T13:31:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T10:31:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/169028\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-belarusians-returning-home-face-border-interrogations-ahead-of-holidays","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/169028\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: Belarusians returning home face border interrogations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

December 20, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> New cases of politically-motivated persecution documented in Belarus on December 18 and 19 included reports of extensive interrogations of Belarusians returning home from abroad by bus via Poland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials focus on students, including minors, as well as holders of foreign residence permits and those who had spent extended periods abroad, BGmedia <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a different development, a judge in Minsk sentenced Daniel-\u0141andsiej Kejta, a singer in a church men\u2019s choir, to two years in prison on protest-related charges, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported, noting that the trial took place earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia sentenced a Belarusian resistance fighter to 22 years in prison for his alleged role in bomb attacks on Russian freight trains in Buryatia. Siarhiej Jeramieje\u016d was found guilty of terrorism and illegal possession and smuggling of explosives, according to the Russian Prosecutor General\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two days ago, Belarusian authorities launched special proceedings that would allow for a trial in absentia against exiled Arciom \u0160abunie\u016d, accused of inciting hatred, threatening officials with violence and insulting them, the Investigative Committee said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of December 20, human rights defenders identified at least 1,103 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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