{"id":63275,"date":"2024-01-26T12:58:42","date_gmt":"2024-01-26T09:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/?post_type=articles&p=63275"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"update-on-arrests-trials-politically-motivated-persecution-119","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/63275\/","title":{"rendered":"Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

January 26, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on January 25 as authorities are planning trials in absentia for 20 prominent exiled researchers and journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrests<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least 159 people have been persecuted as a part of the January 23 crackdown across Belarus, the Viasna Human Rights Center said. Some were tried for minor offences while others face extremism-related charges. Most of the arrested were released after interrogations, but it remains unknown whether they have been charged or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police arrested a man who returned from Poland after his work visa had expired, Mediazona reported. In social media, he is known as \u017denia \u0160um, frontman of the Minimum Distancii band. He allegedly participated in 2020 postelection protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michai\u0142 \u017dam\u010du\u017eny was arrested after the search at his home on January 23, Viasna reported. Earlier, he had served a prison term on charges widely seen as politically motivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On January 24, police arrested Siarhiej Hardzijevi\u010d, a former journalist for 1reg.by<\/em> local media outlet in Drahi\u010dyn, Brest region, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reported. Authorities accuse him of sharing opposition content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A man was arrested in Mahilo\u016d for tearing down a state flag and faces criminal charges of abusing state symbols, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trials<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge in Viciebsk fined Ta\u0107ciana Sieviaryniec, the mother of imprisoned opposition politician Pavie\u0142 Sieviaryniec, 5,400 rubels (about $1,600) for sharing opposition content and unauthorized picketing, Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dzianis \u0141oban, head of a youth soccer school in Smarho\u0144, Hrodna region, was jailed for seven days for sharing opposition content, Hrodna.life<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge in Lida, Hrodna region, convicted Kiry\u0142 Stanku\u0107 of similar offense, the Pravo Imeyut<\/em> initiative reported. The outcome of the trial remains unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naftan oil refinery employee Alaksandar La\u0161ko\u016d was jailed for the third consecutive time in Navapo\u0142ack, Viciebsk region, on January 9, Viasna’s Viciebsk branch said. La\u0161ko\u016d, who participated in the 2020 strike, has been behind bars for 44 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

A judge in Lozna, Viciebsk region, sentenced U\u0142adzimir Lisica to three years in prison and fined him 7,400 rubles (about $2,340), the Viciebsk ranch of Viasna said. He was also ordered to pay 3,000 rubels (some $950) in damages to Prosecutor General Andrej \u0160vied and Navapo\u0142ack City Council deputy Ihar Miad\u017aviedzki, each.  Authorities persecuted Lisica for allegedly insulting Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar Struhalski, chief engineer at the Homiel-based milk manufacturer Milkavita, went on trial for donations to the BySol Foundation, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special proceedings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Investigative Committee filed criminal charges against prominent Belarusian political analysts, journalists and members \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja’s team. They are accused under special proceedings that target those living abroad and evading contact with investigators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Terrorist” list update<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Committee for State Security added D\u017amitryj Hulin, Pavie\u0142 Jara\u0161 and Alaksandar Baravik to the list of “individuals involved in terrorist activities,” its website said. All three were persecuted for allegedly inciting hatred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other instances of persecution<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition activist Barys Chamajda, 76, was released after spending two days at a pre-trial detention center, he said on Facebook. His trial is scheduled for February 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of January 26, human rights defenders identified at least 1,418 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Opposition sources estimate the number of political prisoners at around 5,000.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

January 26, Pozirk. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on January 25 as authorities are planning trials in absentia for 20 prominent exiled researchers and journalists. Arrests At least 159 people have been persecuted as a part of the January 23 crackdown across Belarus, the Viasna Human Rights Center said. Some were […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[29,16,15],"class_list":["post-63275","articles","type-articles","status-publish","hentry","rubric-germanynews","rubric-politics","rubric-society"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUpdate on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"January 26, Pozirk. 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