{"id":176639,"date":"2026-02-21T11:02:59","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T08:02:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/176639\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"politically-motivated-convictions-reported-in-minsk-hrodna","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/176639\/","title":{"rendered":"Politically motivated convictions reported in Minsk, Hrodna"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

February 21, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Courts in Minsk and Hrodna handed down new politically motivated convictions on February 20, while authorities expanded official \u201cextremist\u201d and \u201cterrorist\u201d lists, as pressure on government critics in Belarus continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Minsk City Court convicted Vital Abadzienka, a 51-year-old resident of Homiel, of preparing to join a terrorist organization and participate in a foreign conflict. The charge is routinely used against those seeking to fight alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces against Russia. The sentence has not been disclosed, Homielskaja Pra\u016dda<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same court opened the trial of Vadzim Kryva\u0161eje\u016d, a former director of an aquatic center in Minsk, in his absence. The exiled opposition supporter is accused of exceeding his authority, conspiring to seize power, calling for sanctions and association with an extremist group, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A court in Belarus also convicted Hleb Ryb\u010danka, an IT professional born in Hrodna, of eight offenses under political articles and added him to the list of \u201cextremists.\u201d His sentence has not been disclosed, Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cichan Osipa\u016d, an activist serving a sentence of nearly 12 years, is facing an additional charge of defying orders from the correctional facility administration, according to Antanina Kanava\u0142ava, a former political prisoner. She said he has health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities have added 22 individuals to the list of extremists, which now contains 6,320 entries, and eight people to the list of terrorists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The additions include Ta\u0107ciana Mahnusava, Raman Macha\u0144ko\u016d and Alaksandr Miad\u017avied\u017a, all convicted of inciting hatred. Mahnusava was also found guilty of calling for sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other blacklisted individuals are five young people who allegedly plotted terrorist attacks on instructions from the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). They are Maryya Misiuk, sentenced to 13 years in prison; Siarhiej \u017dyhale\u016d (12 years); Trafim Barysa\u016d (12 years); Alaksandra Pulinovi\u010d (10 years); and D\u017amitryj Zacharo\u0161ka (10 years). On February 13, the interior ministry placed them on its list of \u201cpersons involved in extremist activity.\u201d On February 16, a panel of judges of the Supreme Court of Belarus rejected their appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Misiuk, a Ukrainian national released in November 2025 and transferred from Belarus to Ukraine, was convicted in the same criminal case and is listed as an extremist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Viasna Human Rights Center, Pulinovi\u010d and Barysa\u016d were 16 and 17 years old, respectively, at the time of their arrest in March 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The terrorist designation requires banks to freeze the designated persons\u2019 accounts. Those listed are barred from conducting non-cash transactions through banks and post offices and cannot receive money transfers while in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ja\u016dhien Bur\u0142o, a member of Tor Band serving an eight-year sentence, recently underwent foot surgery and is using crutches, journalist Ihar \u0141osik, a former political prisoner, reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials have contacted relatives of some exiled former political prisoners, suggesting that they return to Belarus to complete compulsory military service, Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of the evening of February 20, human rights defenders had identified at least 1,142 political prisoners, though the actual number is believed to be considerably higher due to many undocumented cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 6, 2025, the Belarusian Supreme Court stopped publishing trial schedules and court rulings that had helped rights activists document reprisals. Police also stopped releasing videos of arrests and interrogations of opposition activists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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