Authorities seize village house from candidate for opposition Coordination Council

May 15, Pozirk. Alena Januškoŭskaja, a political emigrant from Viciebsk, has said on Facebook that authorities have seized her village house and put it up for an auction scheduled for May 30.

The move comes weeks after the Belarusian ruler warned exiled opposition activists that they can forget about their property in Belarus.

On April 26, Januškoŭskaja was announced as a Solidarity coalition candidate for the opposition Coordination Council, a proto-parliament.

She learned of the auction from a bailiff.

It is unclear what case has led to the seizure of the estate.

In February 2021, Januškoŭskaja, a Christian Democracy activist, served a jail term. Shortly after, she left Belarus with her daughter and two granddaughters.

Alaksandar Łukašenka last month threatened reprisals against the relatives of his opponents who fled Belarus after the 2020 presidential vote.

“Remember that you are doing very serious harm to your relatives,” he warned in a televised speech. “Remember that you have some property here. I advise you to forget about this property. But do not put your relatives at risk, you know what this can lead to.”

Earlier, authorities auctioned off the apartments of human rights activist Uładzimir Łabkovič, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison, former opposition presidential hopefuls Valeryj Capkała, Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja and Siarhiej Cichanoŭski.

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Łukašenka threatens emigrants’ relatives