{"id":95020,"date":"2024-07-11T20:32:52","date_gmt":"2024-07-11T17:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/95020\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"joint-trial-over-2020-protests-begins-in-minsk","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/95020\/","title":{"rendered":"Five on trial in Minsk in connection with 2020 protests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

July 11, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> A district court in Minsk has opened the trial of five men accused of taking part in protests after the 2020 presidential election, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ihar Dubo\u016dski, Siarhiej Maru\u0161yn, Leanid Cichanovi\u010d, Maksim Marcin\u010dyk and Illa Nazara\u016d are accused of violent disorder. Judge Alena Kapcevi\u010d, who, according to Viasna, has issued at least 39 politically-motivated sentences since 2020, presides over the proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not the first trial this year of a group in connection with the peaceful post-election protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 31, Judge Viktoryja Pakunova found eight Baranavi\u010dy residents guilty of violent disorder. She sentenced all of them to medium-security penal colony: D\u017amitryj Filipovi\u010d, to 2.5 years; Alaksandar \u0141a\u016dru\u0161\u010dyk, Kanstancin Kalaha and Eryk Ka\u0142aso\u016dski, to two years; Ivan Packo, Ivan Dryk (a minor at the time of the protests), Pavie\u0142 Sierhijenia and Arciom \u0141api\u010d, to 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April, at least 17 locals were convicted of the same offense in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 11, a court sentenced Eduard Apanovi\u010d and Alaksiej Leskaviec to 18 months behind bars; Alena Stachiejka, Volha Tadro, D\u017amitryj Abramovi\u010d, Aleh Arciuch, Aleh Siarhieje\u016d, D\u017amitryj Chuta and Via\u010das\u0142a\u016d \u0160ku\u0107ka, to 12 months behind bars. All were sentenced to medium-security penal colony. In the beginning of April, a judge sentenced eight others to prison terms of one to three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 28, a district judge issued guilty verdicts against five people charged with participating in a Brest protest on August 10, 2020. They, too, were accused of violent disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arciom Bota\u016d, Andrej Sa\u0142apura and Alaksandar Jakubuk were sentenced to 18 months; Hanna Vasiljeva, to 2.5 years of restricted freedom, a type of home confinement; Marharyta Atemasava, to a two-year suspended sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to human rights groups, at least 25 people were convicted this year of participating in the August 10 protest rally in Brest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 22, a judge sentenced to prison eight Brest residents: Vital Varfa\u0142amieje\u016d, Alaksandar Tysievi\u010d, Vasil Alaksiejuk, Mika\u0142aj Nikiciuk, Maksim Sobale\u016d, Hleb Klimovi\u010d, to two years; Julija \u0160aronava, to eighteen months; Mikita Vajciuk, to one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vajciuk and \u0160aronava were minors in August 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previously, Sobale\u016d and \u0160aronava were convicted of a drug crime (producing, buying, transporting or selling narcotic substances as an organized group). They were handed down combined sentences of 12 and 13 years in prison, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"