{"id":185247,"date":"2026-04-28T10:42:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T07:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/185247\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T14:10:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:10:23","slug":"reprisals-students-of-blacklisted-university-face-harassment-in-belarus","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/185247\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: students of blacklisted university face harassment in Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

April 28, Pozirk. <\/em><\/strong>New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus between April 25 and 27 as police raided the home of a part-time student at Vilnius-based European Humanities University, recently designated an \u201cextremist\u201d group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The student was forced to write a statement requesting his expulsion from the university, and had his Lithuanian residence permit cut up, Kyky <\/em>reported. In a separate case, a female distance-learning student at the same university was reportedly fired from her job in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The Minsk Regional Court sentenced farmer D\u017amitryj Silin from Va\u0142o\u017eyn, Minsk region, to a restricted freedom term in home confinement on charges of facilitating extremist activities, Na\u0161a Niva <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same court found teacher Alena Ar\u0161anskaja and Natalla U\u0142asava guilty of the same crime. The exact sentences remain unknown but likely involve restricted freedom or prison terms, the media outlet noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge in Hrodna opened the trial of Alaksandar Zubryk without him being present, the Viasna Human Rights Center said. Charges against him include inciting hatred, participating in protests, insulting Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and abusing state symbols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExtremist\u201d designations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Committee for State Security (KGB) branded the Chasiki Tikayut <\/em>(The Clock Is Ticking) YouTube media project as an “extremist” group, naming exiled political analysts Arciom \u0160rajbman and Ryhor Astapienia, as well as journalist Ja\u016dhienija Suhak, as members, the interior ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three days ago, authorities added 17 people to the official register of persons they consider to be \u201cinvolved in extremist activities.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other cases<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A group of Belarusian dissidents signed an appeal to the UN experts on Belarus and the head of the European Parliament\u2019s delegation, urging them to raise the issue of repealing Article 411 of the Belarusian Criminal Code, which punishes disobedience to prison authorities and is widely used to pressure jailed regime critics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least 50 people convicted in politically-motivated cases have had their prison terms extended under this article, former prisoner Palina \u0160arenda-Panasiuk said on Facebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catholic priest Anatol Parachnievi\u010d, 65, suffered a heart attack in custody after his arrest in mid-March, katolik.life<\/em> said. He may face high treason charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights defenders warned that Belarusian law enforcers were looking to recruit people willing to take photos at the Chernobyl-themed rally in Vilnius. Previously, Belarusian officials had repeatedly threatened exiled activists with criminal prosecution, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A total of 150 people wanted in Belarus were arrested in Russia in just one day, according to Viasna. At least one person was wanted on extremism-related charges that Belarusian authorities use to persecute regime critics.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of April 28, human rights defenders identified at least 835 political prisoners, but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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