{"id":176953,"date":"2026-02-24T13:35:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T10:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/176953\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"reprisals-crackdown-on-publishers-new-trials","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/176953\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: crackdown on publishers, new trials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

February 24, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Authorities in Belarus launched a massive crackdown on publishers last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On February 17 and 18, police in Minsk raided apartments and offices linked to book publishers and distributors, arresting about 10 people, Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> and the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll those arrested have rendered great services to Belarusian culture,\u201d Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> said. On February 21, Technalohija, a Minsk-based publisher of books in Belarusian, announced on Facebook its decision to terminate operations without specifying any reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police reportedly arrested Technalohija CEO Vac\u0142a\u016d Bahdanovi\u010d, his wife and two daughters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On February 23, the Committee for State Security (KGB) designated Gutenberg Publisher, a Krakow-based publisher of Belarusian books, as an extremist group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police in Minsk also arrested last week Ihar Kim, a prominent Belarusian language advocate who was involved in an initiative to dub popular movies in Belarusian, according to journalist Ihar \u0141osik. Kim\u2019s wife was also arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dzianis Dzienisienka, a Pinsk resident, was tried in his absence and given four years in prison on charges of rioting, apparently in connection with August 2020 postelection protests, Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u017danna Da\u0161kievi\u010d, a resident of Ma\u0142adzie\u010dna, Minsk region, was sentenced to prison on charges of association with an extremist group and financing participation in a foreign conflict in connection with donations for Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities added new social media accounts to their list of banned content:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0413\u0440\u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e \u0421\u0443\u0449\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c, \u0412\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0456\u043a\u0456 \u045e \u0412\u044f\u043b\u0456\u043a\u0443\u044e \u0420\u043e\u043a\u0441\u0456, Bie\u0142aruski \u0179a\u01d4nier\/\u0411\u0435\u043b\u0430\u0440\u0443\u0441\u043a\u0456 \u0416\u0430\u045e\u043d\u0435\u0440 and SNP | NEDOERROR on Telegram; Gutenberg Publisher, \u0441he_slavik, hermanvertinskiy, mikita_belar, NN MEDIA REPORT, zerkalo_story and belarus_about on Instagram; \u041f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0442\u0440\u0451\u043c \u0441 \u0425\u0430\u043b\u0435\u0437\u0438\u043d\u044b\u043c, \u041d\u0430\u0446\u0438\u044f \u041b\u0438\u0434\u0435\u0440\u043e\u0432 \u041e\u043d\u043b\u0430\u0439\u043d-\u0445\u0430\u0431 on YouTube; the websites and social media pages of Press Club Belarus and \u0411\u0435\u043b\u0430\u0440\u0443\u0441\u043a\u0456 \u041f\u042d\u041d \/ PEN Belarus; Kim King \u0438 \u042f \u043d\u0435 \u043f\u0456\u0434\u0442\u0440\u0438\u043c\u0443\u044e \u043d\u0430\u0446\u0438\u0437\u043c Telegram stickers; usual_morningg on Threads; \u041f\u0435\u0440\u0448\u044b \u0440\u044d\u0433\u0456\u0451\u043d, \u0413\u0410\u041d\u0426\u0410\u0412\u0406\u0427\u042b, Belarusian Verdict and \u0411\u0435\u043b\u0430\u0440\u0443\u0441\u043a\u0456 \u043a\u0430\u043c\u0456\u0442\u044d\u0442 \u0441\u0430\u043b\u0456\u0434\u0430\u0440\u043d\u0430\u0441\u0446\u0456 \u0437 \u0423\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0456\u043d\u0430\u0439 on Facebook; fantomx, bielaruskiantykamunist, witek.bondaruk, \u041b\u0443\u043a\u0430\u0448 \u0437\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0434\u0443, \u0411\u0456\u0440\u0443\u043b\u044c\u043a\u0430, belarusk_, paleshchuk and veramach2 on TikTok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian auhtorities did not return the passport or medical records to opposition politician Mika\u0142aj Statkievi\u010d, liberated from prison last week after a stroke, his wife Maryna Adamovi\u010d told LRT<\/em>. Without these documents, the politician cannot receive proper medical assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alieh \u0141ojka, a pastor from Homiel serving a three-year term in prison for alleged correspondence with Bie\u0142aruski Hajun, has complained of heart ache and walking difficulties due to spinal disc herniation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volha \u010cukarava, an activist arrested in the fall of 2024 and sentenced to four years in prison on extremism-related charges, went blind in prison after a stroke that she had suffered in pre-trial detention, reported journalist Maryna Zo\u0142atava.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of the evening of February 23, human rights defenders had identified at least 1,141 political prisoners, though the actual number is believed to be considerably higher due to many undocumented cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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