Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

May 12, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on May 11 with lengthy prison sentences handed down to the founder of an online store selling Belarusian-themed goods and a defense attorney who helped protesters in 2020.

Arrested and released

Police arrested Ściapan Kraŭčanka in Vilejka, Minsk region, and searched his home, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. He spent three days in custody and was released pending trial on May 15.

Sewing factory employee Uładzisłaŭ Suchaŭ was arrested at his workplace in Homiel, the Homiel branch of Viasna said. The reasons for his arrest remain unclear.

Homiel police also arrested local activist Illa Mironaŭ, his Facebook page says. He will go on trial on May 12.

Authorities released Ramuald Ułan under an amnesty program, BPN reported. In early January 2021, he was sent to an open-type correctional facility to serve a restricted freedom sentence of two and a half years of restricted freedom in on charges of defamation for sharing an image of police officers who testified against protesters in a local chat. In 1996-2005, Ułan published Novaya Gazeta Smorgoni, a local independent newspaper in the Hrodna region.

Authorities also released Mikałaj Zajac, a former spokesperson for the Janka Kupała National Theatre, after he had served a jail term, his Instagram page says. Zajac has left Belarus.

Criminal proceedings

The Minsk City Court sentenced Pavieł Biełavus, the founder and owner of Symbal.by online store selling Belarusian-themed goods, to 13 years in prison and a fine of 18,500 rubels (some $7,300), BPN reported. Authorities found him guilty of high treason, organizing protests, seeking to undermine national security and leading an extremist group.

The same court sentenced defense lawyer Anastasija Łazarenka, 40, to six years in prison for providing legal help to arrested protesters and their family members in 2020, Viasna said.

On March 10, a district court in Minsk sentenced Maksim Hujdo, Kaciaryna Ambraževič, Jaŭhien Kražaŭ and Alaksandra Kražava to two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement on charges related to 2020 protests.

Vital Tkačenka was given the same term of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility on similar charges.

Freelance journalist Jaŭhien Mierkis went on trial in Homiel, BPN reported. Authorities accuse him of facilitating extremist activities as well as forming and running an extremist group.

Other instances of persecution

Authorities disbarred lawyer Ihar Ściapanaŭ who was in charge of the legal aid office in the Lozna district, Viciebsk region. In February, he served 15 days for sharing opposition content. In early March, the Viciebsk Regional Bar Association expelled him for allegedly “committing an offense incompatible with the legal profession,” the Pravo na Zashchitu (Right to Defense) initiative reported.

Jailed anarchist activist Alaksandr Franckievič was held in a punishment cell for a month, Viasna reported. Authorities sentenced him to 16 years and nine months in prison on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Jailed rock musician Jaŭhien Burło, 32, was diagnosed with hip necrosis and is currently held at the prison’s medical ward, the Homiel branch of Viasna said. He is allowed to use crutches. Police arrested The Tor Band musicians in late October 2022 but have not yet disclosed the charges against them.

Minsk’s Economic Court shut down Źmicier Kołas’ publishing house on May 10, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reported. The information ministry sought to liquidate the publisher over a book about the Belarusian-Polish border area in 1939-1941.

As of May 12, human rights defenders identified at least 1,484 political prisoners.