{"id":87752,"date":"2024-05-29T12:26:27","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T09:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/87752\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-authorities-keep-harassing-regime-critics-in-exile-and-at-home","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/87752\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: crackdown on Belarusians abroad and at home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

May 29, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Authorities in Belarus on May 28 arrested Viktar \u010cajka, who allegedly administered the chat of Belarusians in Sri Lanka on the Telegram messaging app, Mediazona <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His arrest was a second incident in what appears to be a targeted crackdown on Belarusian activists abroad. Earlier this week, pro-government sources reported the arrest of an administrator of Turkey’s Belarusian community chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a separate development, police searched the Belarusian home of exiled opposition activist Artur Finkievi\u010d elected to the new Coordination Council, his Facebook page says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Belarusian investigators filed criminal charges against exiled activist Volha Vieramiejenka and journalist Iryna \u010carnia\u016dka, the Investigative Committee said. Both are accused of facilitating extremism for alleged association with opposition groups declared extremist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vieramiejenka used to own the Admietna\u015b\u0107 store in Hrodna selling Belarusian-themed goods. The store was branded an extremist group about two months ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u010carnia\u016dka\u2019s husband, Pavie\u0142 Ma\u017eejka is serving a six-year prison term on charges widely seen as politically motivated. In late 2023, authorities added him to their extremist register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

On May 20, a judge in Minsk sentenced businessman Artur Roli\u010d to nine years in prison for donations to the opposition initiatives that Belarusian authorities branded extremist or terrorist, the Viasna Human Rights Center said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pavie\u0142 \u0141uka\u0161evi\u010d in Lida, Hrodna region, was given four years in prison and fined 22,000 rubels (about $6,950) after being found guilty of association with an extremist group and insulting officials and judges, Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arciom Bota\u016d, Andrej Sa\u0142apura and Alaksandar Jakubuk were given 18 months in prison; Hanna Vasiljeva, two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement; Marharyta Atemasava, a two-year suspended prison term for participating in a postelection protest rally in Brest in 2020, the Brest branch of Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hierman Lebedzie\u016d, an 18-year-old university student, went on trial in Minsk on Tuesday on charges of inciting hatred and insulting the head of state in connection with critical social media posts, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online activities<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former police officer Vilen Turhuno\u016d is under arrest in Homiel for online comments, Radyjo Svaboda<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro-government sources reported arrests of a man in Babrujsk, Mahilo\u016d region, for allegedly signing up for the opposition Pieramoha Plan and event host Andrei Papla\u016dski, who admitted under duress to sharing opposition content from the Nexta<\/em> Telegram channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 18, a judge in Lida, Hrodna region, jailed a local self-employed man for 15 days for sharing opposition content, the Pravo Imeyut <\/em>Telegram channel said. Ivan Palijenka was tried in Hrodna on similar charges, but the verdict remains unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrej \u015aciepanenka from Hrodna was jailed for three days and fined 1,200 rubels ($380), the same channel said. Authorities did not disclose the charges against the man, who had earlier served 18 months in prison for allegedly insulting the head of state in connection with critical social media posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Political prisoners<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viasna reported nine new names on the political prisoners’ list: Alaksandar Pa\u017aniak, Vital Varfa\u0142amieje\u016d, Alaksandar Tysievi\u010d, Vasil Aleksiajuk, Mika\u0142aj Nikiciuk, Andrej Sa\u0142apur, Arciom Bota\u016d, Alaksandar Jakubuk and Hleb Klimovi\u010d. Their persecution is linked to protest-related charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of May 29, human rights defenders identified at least 1,410 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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