{"id":189219,"date":"2026-05-26T11:44:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T08:44:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/189219\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T14:52:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T11:52:47","slug":"pressure-on-exiled-activists-grows-amid-dozens-of-searches-new-charges-and-convictions","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/189219\/","title":{"rendered":"Pressure on exiled activists grows amid searches, new charges and convictions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

May 26, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus between May 23 and 25 as the Viasna Human Rights Center confirmed at least 30 searches at the Belarus-based homes of exiled activists linked to Freedom Day celebrations abroad earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other instances of persecution included new criminal charges against opposition politician Pavie\u0142 Sieviaryniec, who was freed in Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s deal with Washington last December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exiled Sieviaryniec said on Facebook that investigators are pressing charges over his role in the opposition\u2019s Freedom Day rallies abroad. Police have searched his home in Viciebsk, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another exile, political commentator D\u017amitryj Ba\u0142kuniec, was given 12 years in prison without being present at the trial in Minsk, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. He faced eight criminal charges and was also ordered to pay a fine of 225,000 rubels (about $81,700).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information ministry announced extremist content designations for ProtivPytok.org<\/em> linked to the rights defenders\u2019 initiative against torture and 12 social media pages, including rozum.media<\/em> on Threads and Facebook accounts by Vesna Book publisher and the Belarusian Greens party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities released soccer fan Tamaz Pipija after he had served a lengthy prison term for participating in 2020 postelections protests, Na\u0161a Niva <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month, the Committee for State Security (KGB) sealed the apartment of former designated political prisoner Mika\u0142aj Lapie\u0161ka, who ran for the opposition Coordination Council, Viasna said. KGB agents also harassed the activist\u2019s brother and mother-in-law. The Lapie\u0161ka family, which has many children, is paying off a mortgage on the aforementioned apartment in Hrodna region\u2019s Va\u016dkavysk. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MAYDAY.TEAM<\/em> reported a critical situation for the second consecutive year at Homiel\u2019s Penal Colony No 4 over a heavy infestation of midges. Inmates cannot receive protection as it is not on the list of permitted items, while several female inmates are reported to suffer from allergic reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of May 26, human rights defenders identified at least 839 political prisoners, but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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