Viasna: dozens travelers arrested at border, convicted in June

July 10, BPN. Judges convicted in June at least 36 Belarusian travelers arrested at border checkpoints over content found by agents in their smartphones, says a new monthly report by the Viasna Human Rights Center.

At least 13 travelers were arrested at the Belarusian-Russian border.

In all in June, judges sentenced at least 184 persons to jail and imposed 151 fines for subscriptions to media outlets banned by the government and for prohibited content.

Viasna reported 560 arbitrary detentions, or 18 every day across the country.

Travelers were tried at eight border locations. Committee for State Security (KGB) agents examined smartphones, interrogated travelers and scanned their residence permits from neighboring countries. Reposts of content from media designated extremist, white-red-white symbols, photos and videos from post-election protests were the key reasons for arrests.