Investigators file criminal charges against Greens leader

April 2, Pozirk. Dźmitryj Kučuk, former chairman of the outlawed Belarusian Greens Party, has been accused of gross violations of public order, the Parlamenstky Kanal Telegram channel reported.

Kučuk was the seventh party leader in Belarus to end up behind bars after his arrest on February 16 as he tried to commemorate the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in front of the Russian embassy in Minsk.

Public disorder charges are often used against regime critics in Belarus after they are arrested for some alleged minor offense, said Anatol Labiedźka, an aide to Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja.

“Dźmitryj made the law enforcers nervous,” he added, noting that Kučuk did not leave Belarus and remained active in politics, trying to campaign for the release of political prisoners.

The Belarusian Greens Party was shut down by the Supreme Court in late July 2023 at the request of the justice ministry.

Also read: Politician plans to commemorate Navalny, gets arrested