\n March 29, BPN.<\/b> New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on March 28.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Arrests\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Police arrested Arciom Labied\u017aka, son of exiled opposition politician Anatol Labied\u017aka, the politician wrote on Facebook. It is unclear whether he has been charged.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Police also arrested six residents of Kruh\u0142aje, Mahilo\u016d region, MAYDAY.TEAM reported. Human rights defenders identified one of the detainees as Alina Horava. They all may be persecuted in connection with 2020 protests.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t New criminal cases\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Authorities accused Maksim \u0141apacin and his wife Ludmi\u0142a of a terrorist act in connection with the February 26 drone attack on the Russian military aircraft at the Ma\u010duli\u0161\u010dy military airfield, Minsk region, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. The couple has two minor children.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Homiel resident Viktar Za\u0142atare\u016dski, 28, was charged with promoting extremism and creating and participating in an extremist group, MAYDAY.TEAM reported. Police arrested him after checking his phone at a Belarusian-Lithuanian border checkpoint.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Criminal proceedings\n<\/p>\n
\n\t A court in Brest sentenced Via\u010das\u0142a\u016d Kobryn, 58, to 18 months in prison and a fine of 3,700 rubels (some $1,300) for insulting officials and Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka, the Brest branch of Viasna reported.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t A court in Minsk sentenced Danii\u0142 Vituno\u016d, 21, to one year in prison over 2020 protests, Viasna said.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Photographer Varvara Miad\u017aviedzieva went on trial in Minsk on charges of participating in protests. Police arrested her in December 2022 together with her husband when they returned to Belarus for medical treatment.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t The Minsk City Court started hearing a case against Dzianis Voraza\u016d, Via\u010das\u0142a\u016d Panciu\u0161enka, Volha Cierach, U\u0142adzimir \u0141avor and Kaciaryna Zareckaja. Police arrested the defendants in September 2022 for hanging out Ukrainian and Belarusian national flags in Minsk. Authorities accuse them of involvement in extremist activities. The trial is closed to the public.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tJa\u016dhien Fica\u016d will go on trial in Minsk on March 30 over 2020 protests.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Anastasija Padhajskaya, 31, will go on trial in Brest on April 4 for sharing information with opposition Telegram channels.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Other instances of persecution\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Jailed regime critic Maryja Kale\u015bnikava was transferred to the colony\u2019s internal prison, Viktar Babaryka’s Telegram channel reported. Last November, she was hospitalized in Homiel in a serious condition with a perforated ulcer. She is currently serving an 11-year prison term on charges widely seen as politically motivated.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Activist U\u0142adzimir Ipata\u016d jumped out of the window at Penal Colony No 14 in Navasady, Minsk region, the Homiel branch of Viasna reported. He was hospitalized with serious injuries. Human rights defenders link his suicide attempt to the harsh conditions in prison.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t New political prisoners\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Human rights groups declared journalists Pavie\u0142 Padabied and Via\u010das\u0142a\u016d \u0141azara\u016d political prisoners. Both face charges of facilitating extremism.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t Authorities released social-democratic activist Piotr Kanstancina\u016d after he had served two years in prison over protests, the Belarusian Social Democratic Party’s press office reported.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t As of March 29, human rights defenders identified at least 1,467 political prisoners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
March 29, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on March 28. Arrests Police arrested Arciom Labied\u017aka, son of exiled opposition politician Anatol Labied\u017aka, the politician wrote on Facebook. It is unclear whether he has been charged. Police also arrested six residents of Kruh\u0142aje, Mahilo\u016d region, MAYDAY.TEAM reported. Human rights defenders identified […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[16],"class_list":["post-46273","articles","type-articles","status-publish","hentry","rubric-politics"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n