{"id":81213,"date":"2024-04-21T23:44:41","date_gmt":"2024-04-21T20:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/81213\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"update-on-arrests-trials-politically-motivated-persecution-168","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/81213\/","title":{"rendered":"Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

April 21, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> New instances of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on April 20-21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

A Brest resident was arrested for protesting in 2020, a pro-government source reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The U\u0161a\u010dy District Court in the Viciebsk region fined local resident Anton Dziarbasa\u016d 1,200 rubels (over $360) for sharing an article from the independent news website Zerkalo<\/em> on Instagram. The ruling was made on April 4 under a law that bans the distribution of extremist propaganda, Viasna Viciebsk reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tomorrow the Minsk City Court will try Andrej Mirej\u010dyk under six articles of the Criminal Code, according to the official schedule. He is charged with inciting hatred, participating in an extremist group and insulting an official and the head of state. The other charges are unlawful handling of personal data and calls for sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 26, a district court in Minsk will hear a case against Catholic journalist Aksana Ju\u010dkavi\u010d, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. She is accused of an offense against public order in connection with peaceful protests against fraud in the 2020 presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 29, the Minsk City Court will hear a case against financial consultant U\u0142adzimir Nikicin, Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> reported. He was arrested on his return from Poland and accused of calling for sanctions to be imposed on Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 2, the Minsk City Court will hear a case againt businessman U\u0142adzimir Ba\u0142abanovi\u010d. He is charged with inciting hatred and calling for sanctions. In January 2024, authorities linked Ba\u0142abanovi\u010d to the “extremist group Tryelit,” Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extremism lists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities added over a dozen social media accounts to the list of extremist content, according to the information ministry. They include the Telegram channel Advokaty Prav Cheloveka<\/em> (Human Rights Advocates), the Instagram page of Alaksandra Dabrova and the TikTok page Chaty 97%<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the official schedule, a new trial against six political prisoners – defendants in the “Cichano\u016dski case” – will be held in the Homiel Regional Court on April 25. They are: Siarhiej Cichano\u016dski (first they sentenced him to 18 years in a medium-security penal colony and later added 1.5 years to his sentence); Strana Dlya Zhizni cameraman Arciom Saka\u016d and its social media manager D\u017amitryj Papo\u016d (both sentenced to 16 years in a medium-security penal colony); U\u0142adzimir Cyhanovi\u010d of the YouTube project MozgON and media consultant Ihar \u0141osik (both sentenced to 15 years in a medium-security penal colony); and politician Mika\u0142aj Statkievi\u010d (14 years in a maximum-security penal colony). The details are unknown. It is reported that “other issues related to the enforcement of a sentence, ruling or order” will be considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pavie\u0142 Bie\u0142avus, the founder of the patriotic merchandise store Symbal.b\u0443 and the Hodna campaign, will be tried behind closed doors in the Minsk City Court on April 29, according to the official schedule. It is reported that “other issues related to the enforcement of a sentence, ruling or order” will be considered. In May 2023, the same court sentenced Bie\u0142avus, arrested in November 2021, to 13 years in prison for high treason and other alleged crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 23, the Brest Regional Court will consider political prisoner Kanstancin Sa\u0142amijuk’s appeal against sentence, Viasna reported. On February 14, a court in Brest sentenced the IT specialist to two years’ imprisonment for allegedly insulting the head of state. Sa\u0142amijuk had stayed in Poland and was arrested in November 2023 on his return to Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Release<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Political prisoner Andrej D\u017amitryje\u016d, who run for president in 2020, was released from prison. The politician was arrested in January 2023. On April 6, a district court in Minsk sentenced him to 18 months in prison under Article 342 of the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of April 21, human rights defenders identified at least 1,396 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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