{"id":74213,"date":"2024-03-20T12:28:21","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T09:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/74213\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"political-reprisals-journalist-rock-band-on-trial-in-minsk","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/74213\/","title":{"rendered":"Political reprisals: Journalist, rock band on trial in Minsk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 20, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> New instances of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on March 19 with a prominent journalist and a rock band being on trial in Minsk on extremism- and protest-related charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Minsk City Court started hearing a case against journalist Ihar Karniej, the electronic court schedule said. Investigators accused Karniej of membership of the Balurusian Association of Journalists, labeled by authorities an extremist group. He may face up to six years in prison if convicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nizkiz band members Alaksandar Ilin, Siarhiej Kul\u0161a and D\u017amitryj Chala\u016dkin went on trial in Minsk on protest-related charges, according to the electronic court schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 25, the Hrodna Regional Court will start hearing a case against Siarhiej Makarevi\u010d, an employee of the outlawed Viarta\u0144ne foundation, on extremism-related charges, Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

A police-linked Telegram channel has released a video of riot police arresting a Hrodna man suspected of participating in 2020 postelection protests and signing up for the opposition\u2019s Pieramoha Plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The Hrodna region\u2019s judges fined several people for sharing opposition content, the Pravo Imeyut<\/em> Telegram channel reported. Andrej Ivaniuk and Volha Mu\u010dko were fined 1,200 rublels ($370) each; Viktoryja Rubackaja, 800 rubels ($247); and Ta\u0107ciana Da\u016dla\u0161evi\u010d, 400 rubels ($124). The rulings against Dzianis Stankievi\u010d and Halina Hlebik from the Va\u016dkavysk district remain unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge in Mahilo\u016d acquitted former political prisoner Pavie\u0142 Bie\u0142aha\u0142o\u016d accused of storing a link to an opposition sports media outlet Tribuna.com<\/em> on the Viber messaging app, MAYDAY.TEAM reported. In October 2023, he was released after serving two and half years in prison for allegedly insulting an official and discrediting authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

On March 5, a judge in Baranavi\u010dy, Brest region, sentenced Alaksandar Zachar\u010dyk to three years of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility for allegedly slandering Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ha\u0142a An\u0161uk was given a similar term in Minsk to be served in home confinement for allegedly insulting \u0141uka\u0161enka, Viasna said. The woman reportedly sent five electronic appeals to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Council of Ministers. A psychiatrist ordered compulsory security measures and treatment, her case file says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 1, Illa Bulje was given two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement on protest-related charges, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar Pi\u016d\u010duk is on trial in Hrodna on charges of abusing state symbols, insulting and slandering \u0141uka\u0161enka, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 21, the Supreme Court will hear an appeal by Alaksandra Kasko, arrested in February 2023 upon her return from Poland and given 10 years in prison on charges widely seen as politically motivated, Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Extremist” list update<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interior ministry blacklisted Bobruisk 375, Kiselevichi and Tsentralny Rayon (Belaya Tserkov, Ploshchad Lenina) and PremiumName on Telegram as extremist content, its website said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The health of Pavie\u0142 Ku\u010dynski, a Belarusian political prisoner suffering from cancer, is deteriorating, Viasna told UN special rapporteurs. The man was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma in March 2021 but is said to have complained of symptoms since the fall of 2020. He was given five years in prison for online comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inmates of the Penal Colony No 1 in Navapo\u0142ack, Viciebsk region, have no space for walks during the visits of their family members, MAYDAY.TEAM reported. As of March 20, human rights defenders identified at least 1,406 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\n\n\n

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