{"id":80856,"date":"2024-04-19T12:11:43","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T09:11:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/80856\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"update-on-arrests-trials-politically-motivated-persecution-166","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/80856\/","title":{"rendered":"Update on arrests, trials, politically-motivated persecution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

April 19, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> New instances of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on April 18 as harassment of 2020 protesters continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrested and released<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police arrested D\u017amitryj Postnika\u016d in Brest for participating in 2020 postelection protests, a pro-government source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 38-year-old man from Marjina Horka, Minsk region, is under arrest for alleged intentions to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Investigative Committee said. Authorities also claimed he was planning a terrorist attack in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A young man was arrested in Minsk for participating in 2020 protests and accused of “standing on the barricades,” a pro-government source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities released Ivan Paciej\u010duk, Maksim Imchavik and Andrej Tarasaviec after they had served three-year prison terms over 2020 protests, the Brest branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. All three were minors in August 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trials<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrej Mara\u010do\u016d, an engineer at a flax mill in the Viciebsk region, was jailed for three days for sharing a post on Odnoklassniki, the Vitebsk, ya gulayu!<\/em> Telegram channel said. Authorities also confiscated his computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Ihar Parunkievi\u010d, a former bar owner from Pastavy, Viciebsk region, who ran fundraisers for reprisal victims, is being tried in Minsk without the defender being present, Viasna reported. He is accused of inciting hatred, insulting Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, threatening police officers with violence and facilitating extremism. Parunkievi\u010d fled Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Minsk City Court opened a hearing against Ivan Kra\u016dco\u016d, an exiled member of former presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka’s team, Pozirk<\/em> reported. Charges against him include fraud, conspiracy to seize the state power, setting up and participating in activities of an extremist group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 28, a Minsk judge sentenced Vadzim Piatro\u016dski to two and a half years of restricted freedom in home confinement over 2020 protests, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valeryj Zalivaka went on trial to answer extremism charges in connection with donations to solidarity groups, Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anatol Kirej\u010dyk, 74, is on trial in Homiel on charges of slander, illegal actions with firearms and insulting at least 135 officials and law enforcers, the Homiel branch of Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Siarhiej Mielnika\u016d from the Viciebsk region was given 13 months in prison for an alleged obscene post accompanying \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s picture, according to Vitebsk, ya gulayu!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other instances of persecution<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iryna Suryhina, a mother of three from Babrujsk, Mahilo\u016d region, died aged 39, Belsat<\/em> reported. In 2021, she faced politically-motivated persecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian preacher Sierhij Mieljaniec, a father of seven, fled Belarus after serving 25 days in jail, Chry\u015bcijanskaja Vizija said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kry\u015bcina \u010carankova, an activist and frontwoman of the VIKT(A)R xOi! band from Mazyr, Homiel region, also left Belarus days after her release from prison, Andrej Stry\u017eak of the BySol Solidarity Foundation said on Facebook, citing threats of new persecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of April 19, human rights defenders identified at least 1,387 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Opposition sources estimate the number of political prisoners at around 5,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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