{"id":113374,"date":"2024-11-12T11:53:12","date_gmt":"2024-11-12T08:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/113374\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-mass-arrests-continue-despite-pardon-to-convicted-protesters","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/113374\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: mass arrests continue despite pardon for jailed protesters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November 12, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>New cases of politically-motivated persecution documented in Belarus from November 7 to 11 included more arrests across Belarus that coincided with the start of the presidential cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least 40 people were arrested in the Hrodna region, Haradzienskaja Pravaabarona said. In S\u0142onim alone, 10 were arrested and some were jailed for 15 days. The reasons include participating in 2020 postelection protests, following opposition content, assisting political prisoners’ families and receiving help from solidarity initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police also arrested dozens of people in Homiel on similar charges, Flagshtok <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several people face politically-motivated criminal charges, including plotting to seize power and calling for sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka pardoned 31 people sentenced in politically-motivated cases, the Pravo Imeyut <\/em>Telegram channel said. Seventeen have chronic illnesses and three are disabled. One of the released may be former teacher Rus\u0142an Sado\u016dni\u010dy convicted on protest-related charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online content<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vital Vonsik, Ivan Charkievi\u010d and at least two others were tried in the Viciebsk region’s Lepiel district for sharing opposition content, the Vitebsk, Ya Gulayu<\/em> Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday, Hienad\u017a Ismakaje\u016d and Alaksandra \u0141azarenka faced similar charges in Viciebsk and Homiel, respectively, the same channel and Flagshtok <\/em>reported. The sentences remain unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Siarhiej \u010cabo\u0107ka, owner of the local news website s13.ru<\/em> in Hrodna banned on October 30 as extremist content, was jailed for another 15 days, the Sudy, Zaderzhaniya. Grodno i Oblast<\/em> Telegram channel said. Authorities persecuted him for unauthorized picketing, a charge usually used by police to punish people for displaying opposition or pro-Ukrainian symbols online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information ministry reported extremist content designations for talk_mara <\/em>on Instagram, Belaruskaya Mechta <\/em>on YouTube, andrei_gaponik<\/em>, user5395510724747<\/em> and belarus_mara<\/em> on TikTok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criminal proceedings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A judge in Brest sentenced Artur Tru\u0161ko and Vadzim Kutasievi\u010d to 18 months in prison; Alina Novikava, to two years of restricted freedom in home confinement, the Brest branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center said. All three were persecuted in connection with their participation in a protest rally in August 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jan Karlijona\u016d went on trial in Minsk and D\u017amitryj Ho\u0142ub, in Hrodna, Viasna said. Both are accused of inciting hatred, while Ho\u0142ub also faces charges of violent disorder in connection with his role in post-election protests and of insulting \u0141uka\u0161enka in connection with critical social media posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hrodna Regional Court opened proceedings against exiled activist Je\u017ey Hryhien\u010da, the Sudy, Zaderzhaniya. Grodno i Oblast<\/em> said. In 2020, he was a presidential campaign manager for Hanna Kanapackaja, who is also running for president in 2025. Authorities accuse the man of insulting and defaming \u0141uka\u0161enka and facilitating extremism for alleged association with opposition groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other cases<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singer Ivan Vabi\u0161\u010devi\u010d aka Dyadya Vanya, arrested on November 5, is held at a pre-trial detention center, Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> reported. The reasons remain unknown<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of November 12, human rights defenders identified at least 1,284 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian authorities filed 7,400 politically-motivated criminal cases in the four years since the August 2020 presidential election, according to Viasna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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