{"id":79031,"date":"2024-04-11T11:29:19","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T08:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/79031\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"update-on-arrests-trials-politically-motivated-persecution-161","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/79031\/","title":{"rendered":"Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

April 11, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on April 10 with another death behind bars: retired Colonel Alaksandar Kulini\u010d died on Tuesday at a detention center in Brest while awaiting trial on charges of insulting Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrested and released<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 9, activist Halina \u0141ahackaja was arrested at a police department in Minsk where she came to pick up her phone seized from her two years ago, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. She is to remain in custody for 72 hours and may be accused of a minor offense. In March 2022, she had served 15 days in jail over anti-war leaflets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 8, authorities released D\u017amitryj Tur after he had served three and a half years in prison for participating in 2020 postelection protests in Brest, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

A judge in Sianno, Viciebsk region, was scheduled to hear a case against Halina Harba\u010dova on April 10, the Vitebsk, ya gulayu. Novosti Vitebska<\/em> Telegram channel said. She may have been accused of interfering in elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New criminal charges<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities filed criminal charges against Natalla Sa\u0142uk for participating in 2020 protests, Mediazona. Belarus<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Aleh Padasinavik went on trial in Hrodna for allegedly insulting \u0141uka\u0161enka, the Sudy, Zaderzhaniya. Grodno i Oblast<\/em> Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The health of Ale\u015b Bialacki, Nobel Prize winner and Viasna’s founder, is deteriorating behind bars and he is not allowed to receive parcels with necessary medications, his wife Natalla Pin\u010duk told AP<\/em>. Bialacki is serving a 10-year prison term in a politically motivated case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar Kap\u0161ul, a former lawyer at the Naftan oil refinery in Navapo\u0142ack, Viciebsk region, may be transferred to a closed prison, Viasna said. He was arrested in September 2021 in Russia, handed over to Belarus and sentenced to 15 years in prison in a case against Rabo\u010dy Ruch (Workers’ Movement).\u00a0 Authorities accused him of high treason, setting up an extremist group and illegal actions with firearms.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jailed opposition activist U\u0142adzimir Hundar, serving a 20-year prison term, was banned from receiving parcels for one year, Radyjo Racyja<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of April 11, human rights defenders identified at least 1,383 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

\n\n
\n \"\"