{"id":95781,"date":"2024-07-16T11:58:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T08:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/95781\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-regime-critics-journalists-catholic-initiative-in-focus","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/95781\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: regime critics, journalists, Catholic initiative in focus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

July 16, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> New instances of politically-motivated persecution <\/a>have been documented in Belarus over the past three days, as the interior ministry confirmed the arrest of 56 people during the July 8 raid at an outdoor concert near Pinsk, Brest region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eleven were accused of sharing opposition content and symbols, while two organizers were found guilty of violating the order of holding mass events, but the sentences remain unknown. Authorities identified some of the concert participants as 2020 protesters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro-government sources also reported two arrests in Hrodna for allegedly sharing stickers with the Pahonia coat of arms and the Ukrainian flag in the Telegram messaging app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other two arrests were linked to 2020 postelection protests and the sharing of personal data of officials and law enforcers with the opposition online projects that disclosed their identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Alaksandar Mirski who used to head the national tourist association was given seven and a half years in prison on high treason charges, ONT<\/em> TV channel reported. Investigators accused him of collaborating with a Lithuanian secret service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raman Ha\u0142uza, a Polish national originally from \u017d\u0142obin, Homiel region, went on trial at the Minsk City Court on similar charges, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Police arrested him one year ago when he visited Belarus. Viasna has not disclosed any further details of the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same court also opened a hearing under special proceedings against exiled former tut.by<\/em> employees Volha \u0141ojka, Alena Ta\u0142ka\u010dova and Kaciaryna Tka\u010denka, Viasna reported. Charges range from inciting hatred and tax evasion to calling for sanctions and violent disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anton Stankievi\u010d is on trial on charges of financing extremism in connection with donations to opposition solidarity groups, Viasna added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vital Kanurkin went on trial in Hrodna, accused of insulting and slandering Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka in connection with critical social media posts, the Pravo Imeyut <\/em>Telegram channel said. Authorities also blacklisted the man as a terrorist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U\u0142adzimir Navumovi\u010d, accused of association with an extremist group, is also on trial in Hrodna, the same channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Authorities blocked access to katolik.life<\/em>, the Christian media outlet said on Telegram. Earlier, access to the website was also restricted in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ShapitoDich<\/em> Telegram channel and two associated accounts were designated as an extremist group, the interior ministry\u2019s website said, listing Alena Jelkina and Stanis\u0142a\u016d Poda\u016d as its members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of July 16, human rights defenders identified at least 1,392 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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Over 5,300 people convicted of protesting since 2020 \u2013 Viasna<\/h3>\n
July 15, Pozirk. At least 5,361 people have been convicted of violent disorder in Belarus since 2020, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Authorities use this criminal charge for reprisals against peaceful protesters. The first such sentence after the 2020 …<\/div>\n \n