{"id":178150,"date":"2026-03-05T11:00:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T08:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/178150\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-dissident-woman-on-non-custodial-sentence-dies","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/178150\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: dissident woman on non-custodial sentence dies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 5, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Alena Pankova, convicted on protest-related charges, passed away. The woman, blacklisted as a \u201cperson involved in extremist activities\u201d last September, was likely serving a non-custodial sentence, Pozirk <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other cases of politically-motivated persecution documented in Belarus on <\/a>March 4 included a three-year prison sentence to famous folk musician Alieh Chamienka in connection with his work as a show host for the Belarusian-language radio station Radyjo Racyja<\/em>, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reported. He faced extremism-related charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hleb Panasiuk from Homiel\u2019s region \u015aviet\u0142ahorsk, arrested after his return from Poland, was given three years in prison, Homiel\u2019s branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center said. Rights defenders do not know any further details of his case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge in Minsk sentenced Viktoryja Bakunovi\u010d to six years in prison without her being present at the trial. The woman faced extremism-related charges over alleged links to the Xinkalik group for drivers, Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arciom \u0160abunio\u016d was also tried without being present at the proceedings and given four years in prison over his comments about Homiel\u2019s assistant prosecutor Andrej Sidarenka, Viasna said. Charges against the man included inciting hatred, insulting an official and threatening him with violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Committee for State Security (KGB) branded exiled PEN Belarus as an extremist group, listing Ta\u0107ciana Niadbaj and Alena Ta\u0142ka\u010dova as members, according to the interior ministry\u2019s official register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jailed dissident Mika\u0142aj A\u016dtuchovi\u010d, serving a 25-year prison term, was transferred from Penal Colony No. 14 in the Minsk region to Hrodna\u2019s Prison No 1, Radyjo Svaboda<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of March 5, human rights defenders identified at least 1,140 political prisoners, but the real number is considerably higher because of many undocumented cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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KGB designates PEN Belarus as extremist group<\/h3>\n
March 4, Pozirk. Belarus\u2019 Committee for State Security (KGB) has designated a reputable association defending writers\u2019 rights, PEN Belarus, as an extremist group as the government continues its relentless crackdown on dissent for fifth year in a row. The KGB …<\/div>\n \n