{"id":88155,"date":"2024-05-31T11:38:41","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T08:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/88155\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-target-regime-critics-ukraines-supporters","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/88155\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals target regime critics, Ukraine supporters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

May 31, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> New instances of politically-motivated persecution linked to displaying solidarity with Ukraine and sharing opposition content were documented in Belarus on May 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police arrested Ukrainian national Ekateryna Horstyuchenko, 18, at the Polish-Belarusian border on Wednesday, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. The arrest may be linked to a four-year-old picture found on her phone. For the past two years, Horstyuchenko has been living in Belarus where she fled from the war in Ukraine. The exact charges against her are unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pro-government source reported the arrests of Juryj Kapucki and Rus\u0142an Dani\u0142kovi\u010d, owners of event management businesses. Kapucki is accused of sharing government-critical content, supporting Ukraine on social media and signing up for the opposition Pieramoha Plan. Dani\u0142kovi\u010d was arrested for a picture with a white-red-white flag. His wife may have been arrested too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge in Brest sentenced Artur Radzivanovi\u010d to two and a half years in prison for alleged intentions to join Belarusian volunteers fighting Russia in Ukraine, Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catholic priest Pavie\u0142 Lemiech from the Viciebsk region was given a 10-day jail term on May 10, Chry\u015bcijanskaja Vizija reported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His persecution is linked to sharing pictures from 2020 postelection protests with white-red-white flags as well as pictures of the Ukrainian flag on social media. After serving the term, the priest reportedly spent additional four days behind bars on unclear charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online content<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksiej Davido\u016dski, a sound engineer based in Hrodna, is under arrest for sharing opposition content, Mediazoana<\/em> reported. His current whereabouts and charges against him remain unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julija \u010cu\u017ea\u016dka and Cimafiej Haradko\u016d were tried in the Hrodna region on similar charges, the Pravo Imeyut<\/em> Telegram channel said. The verdicts are unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proceedings in the case against the late Alaksandar Kulini\u010d, who died in custody on April 9, were scheduled for May 30 in Brest, Viasna said. Authorities persecuted the man for allegedly insulting the head of state in connection with critical social media posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrej Burdzienia is on trial in Hrodna to answer charges of insulting officials, inciting hatred, defaming and insulting the head of state in connection with social media posts critical of \u0141uka\u0161enka, Viasna reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The penal colony administration placed anarchist activist Alaksandar Franckievi\u010d, serving a lengthy term, in the internal prison for disobedience, the AChK Belarus<\/em> Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of May 31, human rights defenders identified at least 1,402 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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