{"id":97849,"date":"2024-07-28T12:15:03","date_gmt":"2024-07-28T09:15:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/97849\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"authorities-plan-more-trials-in-absentia-against-exiled-opponents","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/97849\/","title":{"rendered":"Authorities plan more trials in absentia against exiled opponents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

July 28, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> On August 5, the Minsk City Court is scheduled to open trial of martial arts instructor Hienad\u017a Kapitana\u016d without the defendant being present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigators accuse him of inciting hatred, calling for sanctions, insulting officials and Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka – charges typical of politically-motivated cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the same day, a judge in Hrodna will try exiled sisters Nadzieja \u015aciepancova, 53, and \u017dana Zacharkievi\u010d, 50, accused of facilitating extremism over alleged association with opposition groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In March 2021, they had been given three and a half and three years in an open-type correctional facility, respectively, on protest-related charges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u015aciepancova and Zacharkievi\u010d fled the country after their appeals were rejected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with Russian journalist Yury Dud, the sisters said they traveled 12 hours across a marsh to sneak into Lithuania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian investigators filed criminal charges against both women in early May, days after they announced they would run for the opposition Coordination Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian government approved special proceedings a few years ago to prosecute those living abroad and evading contact with investigators in their absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amendments listing 34 serious crimes such as acts of terrorism, treason, sabotage, mass riots, association with an extremist group and calls for sanctions, came into effect in July 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More criminal cases will be opened this year against exiled opposition activists, Belarus\u2019 chief investigator D\u017amitryj Hora told journalists in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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