{"id":93625,"date":"2024-07-02T11:43:53","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T08:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/93625\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-cichanouskajas-analysts-sentenced-in-absentia","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/93625\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s analysts sentenced in absentia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

July 2, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> New instances of politically-motivated persecution documented in Belarus from June 29 to July 1 include a verdict in a high-profile case targeting 20 prominent exiled politicians, journalists and researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Minsk judge sentenced them in absentia to prison terms of 10 or more years over alleged links to Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja. Charges ranged from inciting hatred to conspiracy to seize power and extremism, the Prosecutor General\u2019s Office said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition content<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro-government sources reported arrests across Belarus of people accused of posting negative comments about Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, law enforcers and sharing opposition content online. Mediazona<\/em> also reported the arrest of guitar teacher Piotr Bielski in Mahilo\u016d over online comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Siarhiej Levanie\u016dski, Raisa Kalenik, U\u0142adzimir Packo\u016d, Natalla Ivanova, Zoja Bu\u015bko, Halina Zapa\u015bnik, Hanna \u017damojd\u017a and Julija Varani\u0161\u010da were tried in the Hrodna region for sharing opposition content, the Pravo Imeyut<\/em> Telegram channel said. The verdicts remain unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The Hrodna Regional Court started hearing a case against Ihar Su\u0161ko, accused of inciting hatred in connection with politically-sensitive social media posts, the Sudy, Zaderzhaniya. Grodno i Oblast <\/em>Telegram channel reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former children’s hospice head Volha Viali\u010dka is tried by the same court in absentia, the Viasna Human Rights Center said. Charges against her range from slandering \u0141uka\u0161enka to violent disorder and facilitating extremism for alleged association with opposition groups declared extremist. The woman is currently based abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IT specialist Illa Humbar went on trial in Minsk on charges of association with an extremist group and financing extremism in connection with donations to opposition solidarity groups, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Anastasija Macia\u0161 against her two-year prison sentence for collaboration with the Warsaw-based Belsat TV<\/em> channel deemed \u201cextremist\u201d in Belarus, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family members of jailed opposition politician Ryhor Kastusio\u016d, 67, have not heard from him for two months. About two years ago, he was given 10 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to seize power in connection with a Zoom call, in which he said he took part as a listener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Russian interior ministry said it put Belarusian opposition politicians Valeryj Sacha\u0161\u010dyk and Vadzim Prakopje\u016d on the wanted list as founders of the Pahonia volunteer regiment that fought Russia in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities released Juryj Siedzianie\u016dski after he had served three years of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility in connection with his role in protests, Pravo Imeyut<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blogger Vadzim Jerma\u0161uk aka Vadimati was also released after serving a three-year prison term on charges of abusing state symbols and insulting the head of state in connection with critical social media posts, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of July 2, 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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