{"id":88234,"date":"2024-05-31T17:07:48","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T14:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/88234\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"us-embassy-trial-of-cichanouskajas-think-tankers-new-attack-on-human-rights","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/88234\/","title":{"rendered":"US Embassy: trial of “Cichano\u016dskaja’s think-tankers” new attack on human rights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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May 31, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> A case against “\u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja’s think-tankers” is “yet another attack on human rights and free speech by the regime,” the US Embassy said<\/a> on X, as the Minsk Regional Court opened the corresponding trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Amercian diplomats stressed that “the \u0141uka\u0161enka regime’s in-absentia trial of 20 opposition journalists and experts today in Belarus is an attempt to silence dissent and intimidate their families.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judge U\u0142adzimir Are\u0161ka presides over the proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case targets Ryhor Astapenia, director of Chatham House\u2019s Belarus Initiative; sociologist Filip Bikana\u016d; Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s senior political aide Alaksandar Dabravolski; spokeswoman Hanna Krasulina; special representative for elections Alaksandar \u0160\u0142yk; diplomatic adviser Dzianis Ku\u010dynski; RFE\/RL<\/em> journalist Juryj Drakachrust; Political Sphere institute director Andrej Kazakievi\u010d; researcher Vieranika \u0141apu\u0107ka; Alaksandar \u0141ahviniec of Free Belarus University; journalist Hanna Lubakova; political scientists Maryja Rohava and Piotra Rudko\u016dski.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The others are political researcher Lesia Rudnik; SYMPA\/BIPART expert Natalla Rabava; politician Pavie\u0142 Vusa\u016d; Ta\u0107ciana \u010culickaja of Manchester Metropolitan University; political scientists Kaciaryna \u0160macina, Ja\u016dhien Kry\u017eano\u016dski and Vasil Navuma\u016d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All suspects have been charged with incitement to hatred, conspiracy to overthrow the government and membership in an extremist group, charges often used against the government’s political opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourteen of the defendants issued a statement calling the case politically motivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The activities of all persons arbitrarily grouped under this ‘case’ were purely professional. They cannot be classified as the actions mentioned in the indictment,” the statement reads, according to a copy obtained by Pozirk<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We consider this ‘case’ a continuation of the Belarusian authorities’ permanent attack on the independent community of analysts, experts and journalists. Also note that it is nonsense to accuse experts and journalists of attempts to seize power and extremism.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Investigators take inventory of property of "Cichano\u016dskaja's think tankers" for seizure<\/h3>\n
March 27, Pozirk. The Investigative Committee reports that it has taken inventory of assets of 20 think tankers it associates with \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja for possible seizure. "We passed the criminal case to the Prosecutor General for referral to court," the …<\/div>\n \n