Belarus’ investigators target exiled activists, threaten expropriation

May 16, Pozirk. Two months after Freedom Day celebrations marking an anniversary of Belarus’ short-lived independence in 1918, the country’s Investigative Committee has filed criminal charges against 104 participants in ceremonies abroad, its press office reported.

Charges include association with an extremist group and discrediting Belarus, as the current Belarusian government does not recognize Freedom Day as an official holiday and denigrates related historical events.

Investigators claim to have obtained data on more than 100 activists who participated in street rallies in Belgium, Czechia, Georgia, Lithuania, Poland and the United States.

Their Belarusian real estate and property may be inspected, searched or seized, it noted, following Alaksandar Łukašenka’s threats to expropriate his exiled opponents last month.

Earlier, authorities auctioned off the apartments of former opposition presidential hopefuls Valeryj Capkała, Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja and Siarhiej Cichanoŭski. The most recent case was reported on Wednesday when authorities seized a village house from exiled activist Alena Januškoŭskaja.