Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

April 27, BPN. New instances of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on April 26, with several individuals facing arrests and trials on various charges related to the 2020 protests and their political beliefs. Here are the latest updates:

Viktar Babaryka, a jailed former presidential hopeful, was taken to the Navapołack city hospital, Viciebsk region, with signs of beating and a collapsed lung, the Rabočy Ruch movement reported citing its sources. No details are available.

Arrested and released

Lawyer Alaksiej Barodka of the Minsk Regional Bar Association has been held at Minsk’s Detention Center No 1 since late January, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Authorities disbarred him on April 21 but have not disclosed the charges against him.

Police arrested Valeryj Žyhadła in Baranavičy, Brest region, for white-red-white and Ukrainian flag stickers on the dashboard of his car, Naša Niva reported.

Hleb Šamrajeŭ, a legal minor, is under arrest in Homiel on suspicion of burning a state flag, the local branch of Viasna said. He may also face charges for following an opposition Telegram channel. It remains unclear whether he has been charged.

Authorities released Dźmitryj Abramuk after he had served a three-year restricted freedom term at an open-type correctional facility, the Brest branch of Viasna said. He was persecuted for participating in 2020 protests in Brest and allegedly insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka in a phone call to police. In February 2022, authorities transferred him to a penal colony for alleged disciplinary offenses.

New criminal cases

Mikita Najdzionaŭ, a musician and a former Hurma front man, faces criminal charges over alleged participation in 2020 protests, Viasna said. He has been held in the pre-trial detention in Žodzina, Minsk region, for a month.

Criminal proceedings

In Kobryn, Brest region, a district judge sentenced Alaksiej Hulin to one year of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility for allegedly tearing down the state flag from a local clinic, Viasna said.

A court in Minsk sentenced Dźmitryj Lebiadzieŭ to three years of restricted freedom in home confinement in connection with 2020 protests and a fight over politics. He was also fined 1,860 rubels (about $630). 

The prosecutor requested a three-year prison term for Siarhiej Frančuk, a cousin of Vadzim Kabančuk, a deputy commander of the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment formed of Belarusian volunteers in Ukraine. Frančuk went on trial in Minsk on April 20 on several charges related to 2020 protests and online comments.

The Minsk Regional Court will announce a verdict in the NEXTA case on May 3, state-run media outlets reported. Journalists Raman Pratasievič, Jan Rudzik and Ściapan Puciła face a total of 11 criminal charges. Prosecutor requested lengthy prison terms ranging from 10 to 20 years. Rudzik and Puciła are based abroad and were tried in absentia. Pratasievič, currently under house arrest, cooperated with police and asked the judge not to send him to prison.

Software engineer Andrej Filipčyk will go on trial in Minsk on May 3 to answer criminal charges in connection with protests, Viasna reported. He administered a Belarusian-language satirical Telegram channel.

Sociology professor Juryj Bubnoŭ will go on trial in Mahiloŭ on May 4 for allegedly slandering Łukašenka, according to Viasna.

As of April 27, human rights defenders identified at least 1,495 political prisoners.