Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

May 6, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on May 5 as authorities kept persecuting people over online activities.

Arrests

Police arrested two employees of a water well-drilling company from Baranavičy, Brest region, for sharing opposition social media posts, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Authorities did not disclose their names.

Trials

Hanna Arechva, a sales assistant from Hłybokaje, Viciebsk region, has served 10 days in jail for sharing opposition content and alleged violations of holding mass events over her social media posts, the Viciebsk branch of Viasna said.

Criminal proceedings

A district court in Hrodna sentenced Valeryj Viskirski to five years in prison for liking opposition social media posts, MAYDAY.TEAM reported. Authorities accused him of participating in protests, insulting and threatening public officials with violence, abusing state symbols and insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka.

A district court in Homiel sentenced Vasil Dzemidovič, 71, to two and a half years in prison on charges of insulting a judge, Viasna said. His cumulative term in prison amounts to seven years after four trials. Meanwhile, the Puchavičy District Court in the Minsk region started another trial against the man for allegedly insulting public officials. The Committee for State Security (KGB) also blacklisted Dzemidovič as a person “involved in terrorist activities.”

Jailed Hleb Kojpiš went on trial in Mazyr, Homiel region. He may be charged with violating the order of his detention, the Palesse branch of Viasna reported. In December 2021, the web-design studio owner was given two years of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility over protests.

Extremist list update

Security forces added 15 names to the list of people they say are involved in extremism, bringing the total count to 2,770. The new additions include jailed trade unionists Hienadź Fiadynič, Vasil Bieraśnieŭ and Vacłaŭ Areška, accused of seeking to undermine national security, creating an extremist group and inciting hatred.

Extremist content update

Authorities blacklisted several opposition social media pages, including Radio 97 chat on the Telegram messaging app, Nastka Twitter account and Svoboda TikTok page, Viasna reported.

As of May 6, human rights defenders identified at least 1,499 political prisoners.