Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

May 4, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on May 3 as authorities keep persecuting participants in 2020 protests and those criticizing policies of the government online.

Arrests

In Hrodna, police used force to arrest Alaksandr Hajvaronski, the Fair Play cover band frontman, for subscribing to opposition content, the Pravo Imeyut Telegram channel reported.

At least four people were arrested in Brest and the Brest region for comments about Alaksandr Łukašenka and the Belarusian military and for sharing opposition content, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Brest-based journalist Maksim Chlabiec was also briefly detained.

Viasna reported that Uładzimir Kalada, from the village of Alšany, Stolin district, Brest region, might have been under arrest since March. Authorities fined him 740 rubels (over $250) and confiscated his smartphone for “liking” opposition social media posts.

Minsk resident Uładzimir Žyharoŭ is also under arrest, Viasna reported. Authorities have not disclosed any details of his case.

In Mahiloŭ, a mother of a three-year-old child was arrested for comments in the Telegram messaging app, MAYDAY.TEAM, reported.

Criminal proceedings

The Minsk Regional Court sentenced journalist Raman Pratasievič, arrested during the forced landing of the Ryanair flight in Minsk in 2021, to eight years in prison, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported. The EU-based Nexta media project founder Ściapan Puciła and journalist Jan Rudzik were given 20 and 19 years in prison in absentia. Authorities accused them of eleven crimes including forming a terrorist group, inciting mass riots and calling for the seizure of power.

A district court in Minsk sentenced Volha Hładkaja to two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement in connection with her role in 2020 protests, Viasna said. She used to work as a manager at the Belarus 2 state-run TV channel but resigned in September 2020.

A court in Pinsk, Brest region, sentenced Kirył Hranoŭski, 17, to two years of restricted freedom in home confinement, the Brest branch of Viasna said. Police accused the legal minor of insulting Łukašenka and confiscated his smartphone.

Andrej Filipčyk went on trial at a district court in Minsk, Viasna reported. The IT engineer who administered Pa-biełarusku, a satirical Telegram channel, is accused of participating in 2020 protests.

Extremist content update

Authorities blacklisted UDF – Novosti Belarusi, an Odnoklassniki accaunt, as well as several Telegram channels and chats as extremist content, including Radio 97 Chat, Kastuś Chat, Veterany Pieršaj Roty, Schod Biełarus Chat and Volnaya Terriroriya.

As of May 4, human rights defenders identified at least 1,495 political prisoners.