{"id":86502,"date":"2024-05-22T11:29:42","date_gmt":"2024-05-22T08:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/86502\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-focus-on-coordination-council-hopefuls-ahead-of-election","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/86502\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals focus on Coordination Council hopefuls ahead of election"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

May 22, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Ahead of the Coordination Council election on May 25-27, Belarusian investigators announced criminal charges against 257 candidates, accusing them of conspiracy to seize power, calling for sanctions and association with an extremist group. Investigators already raided apartments, seizing property in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a separate incident, outspoken critic Palina \u0160arenda-Panasiuk was accused of disobeying prison authorities for the third consecutive time, Mediazona. Belarus<\/em> reported. She had already served two years on similar charges, in addition to her original two-year term given in a politically-motivated case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities continued punishing participants in 2020 postelection protests and social media users who posted opposition content. On May 22, pro-government sources reported two arrests linked to protests and comments about Belarusian law enforcers and the Russian military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least seven persons were fined and one jailed for 10 days for sharing opposition content in the Hrodna region, the Pravo Imeyut<\/em> Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Brest man known for sharing opposition content in the past was accused of defaming the head of state in connection with social media posts critical of Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catholic priest Pavie\u0142 Lemiech remains in custody and faces another minor charge after serving 10 days in jail, katolik.life <\/em>reported. He was arrested on May 8 together with another priest, Andrej Juchnievi\u010d, who was given 15 days in jail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

On April 23, a Minsk judge sentenced Dzijana Dan\u010danka and her husband Siarhiej to two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement over 2020 protests, Viasna reported. The woman is currently on maternity leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ja\u016dhien Maluhin went on trial in \u017d\u0142obin, Homiel region, on similar charges, the Homiel branch of Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ta\u0107ciana \u010cekiel in Lida, Hrodna region, is accused of insulting the head of state in connection with critical social media posts, the Pravo Imeyut<\/em> Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the opposition marked the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus, Viasna reported 19 new names on the political prisoners’ list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The additions include Vasil Prochara\u016d, his wife \u0141arysa and son Pavie\u0142, who went on trial in Homiel two days ago on charges ranging from inciting hatred to high treason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of May 22, human rights defenders identified at least 1,392 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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