New arrests, “extremist” designations reported in Belarus
July 31, Pozirk. Sources in Belarus reported new arrests, “extremist” designations, harassment and other instances of politically motivated persecution and repressive practices on July 21.
Below is Pozirk’s recap:
- Police arrested about 350 people, including entire families, during a raid on the annual gathering of the Belarusian Rainbow Family community near Rasony in the Viciebsk region on July 29, the local branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Those arrested were accused of participating in an unauthorized mass event and warned that their cases would be heard in courts within two months. The interior ministry confirmed that the raid had taken place but did not disclose the number of arrested people. The ministry merely reported that police had arrested two “organizers,” namely, a 23-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man.
- The Horki District Court in the Mahiloŭ region has designated the website of major Polish news agency PAP as “extremist content.”
- The information ministry added 33 Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok and YouTube accounts to its list of “extremist content.” The website of the opposition transition cabinet’s National Revival Representation was also included.
- The interior ministry reported an all-out effort to engage non-working able-bodied individuals on its registers to assist agricultural companies with the harvesting campaign.
- Exiled politician Pavieł Łatuška, who leads one of the opposition Coordination Council’s factions, said that he submitted information to the District Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw about seven alleged attempts by Belarus’ security services to recruit members of the faction.
Rights defenders identify 13 more political prisoners
July 31, Pozirk. Belarusian human rights defenders have declared 13 more individuals as political prisoners, taking their total to 875, according to a statement posted on the Viasna Human Rights Center’s website. The recent additions include people taken into custody …
