Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution

June 19, BPN. New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on June 17 and 18 as authorities disbarred more lawyers and fired university staff on suspicions of dissent.

Arrests

Police arrested Ihar Čarkašyn and searched his home, presumably on June 7, Naša Niva reported. Two of his work colleagues were arrested as well. Čarkašyn’s older brother Aleś died in 2015 fighting Russia in Ukraine.

Viačasłaŭ Hołub from Babrujsk, Mahiloŭ region, was arrested on June 12 as he was returning to Belarus from Russia, Bobrujsk Online reported.

Protestant priest Alaksandr Jašnikaŭ is under arrest for allegedly disobeying police orders, priest Ryhor Dźmitruk said on Facebook.

Police arrested Ramuald Ułan, an independent newspaper publisher from Smarhoń, Hrodna region, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. Earlier, he had been imprisoned on charges widely seen as politically motivated and released under an amnesty program.

Hrodna region’s police also arrested Maksim Kisialoŭski, Andrej Klapacki, and Juryj Samasiuk for sharing opposition content. The name of the fourth arrested remains unknown.

Trials

A district judge in Lepel, Viciebsk region, jailed musician Vasil Škinder for 15 days. Authorities have not disclosed the charges against him, Viasna reported.

In early June, a woman in Orša, Viciebsk region, was given three days in jail for having a mug with the Pahonia coat of arms in her work office.

Other instances of persecution

The Ministry of Justice disbarred lawyers Alaksandr Biryłaŭ and Pavieł Mironaŭ citing “insufficient qualification.” Biryłaŭ was a defense attorney for Andrej Pačobut (Poczobut), a jailed journalist and Polish minority activist.

Połack State University, Viciebsk region, dismissed at least seven staff members, including lecturers Anastasija Mazho and Śviatłana Panimaščanka, as well as secretaries Kaciaryna Šaŭluha and Taćciana Čarkasava, BPN reported. Earlier, it also fired associate professors Viktar Čaraŭko and Siarhiej Hłazyryn, who were jailed for sharing opposition content.

Jailed anarchist activist Alaksandr Franckievič was left in a punishment cell for 15 more days, Viasna said. He is currently serving a lengthy prison term on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Authorities transferred Aleh Švajko, an activist sentenced to two years in prison in connection with his role in post-election protests, to Penal Colony No 2 in Babrujsk, Mahiloŭ region, Viasna reported.

As of June 19, human rights defenders identified at least 1,497 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Opposition sources estimate the number of political prisoners at around 5,000.