{"id":89988,"date":"2024-06-11T11:43:58","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T08:43:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/89988\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-keep-targeting-2020-protesters-journalists-exiles","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/89988\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals keep targeting 2020 protesters, journalists, exiles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

June 11, Pozirk<\/em><\/strong>. Belarusians who participated in 2020 postelection protests remained the primary target of politically-motivated persecution from June 8 to 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alena Tarasievi\u010d, Halina \u0160umiel, Siarhiej Zaniamonski and Juryj \u015aciepanienka, accused of participating in protest rallies, went on trial in Hrodna on June 10, the Sudy, Zaderzhaniya. Grodno i Oblast<\/em> Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrej Cimonin, Valeryj I\u016d\u010dyn, Michai\u0142 Pi\u0161\u010da\u0142a, \u015aviat\u0142ana Kotava and Dzianis Kota\u016d went on trial in Mahilo\u016d on June 7 on similar charges, MAYDAY TEAM reported, noting that it was the first mass trial of protesters in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pro-government source reported the arrest of a Brest man for participating in a 2020 rally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harassment of journalists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On June 3, a judge in Brest sentenced former journalist Alena Cima\u0161\u010duk to five years in prison and a fine of 46,000 rubels (over $14,000) on charges of discrediting Belarus, inciting hatred and association with an extremist group, accusations typical of politically-motivated cases, Dissidentby<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Supreme Court rejected journalist Ihar Karniej’s appeal against a three-year prison sentence given on extremism-related charges, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jailed journalist Dzianis Iva\u0161yn has been held in a punishment cell since May 21, Vita\u016dt Si\u016d\u010dyk said on Facebook. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights groups consider Karniej and Iva\u0161yn political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Hra\u017eyna Hietko from Biaroza\u016dka, Hrodna region, was jailed for 10 days, the Viasna Human Rights Center said. Charges against her remain unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hienad\u017a Skaraduma\u016d, Rus\u0142an Achota and Julij Kundzirenka were tried in the Hrodna region for sharing opposition content, the Pravo Imeyut <\/em>Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special proceedings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Investigative Committee said it filed criminal charges against martial arts instructor Hienad\u017a Kapitana\u016d under special proceedings that allow authorities to prosecute exiled opponents. The man is accused of inciting hatred, calling for sanctions and insulting Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Managers of the documentary production team at Bie\u0142aru\u015bfilm were fired as part of the politically-motivated crackdown, Euroradio <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition activist Ja\u016dhien Afnahiel, serving a seven-year prison term, was transferred to Penal Colony No 1 in Navapo\u0142ack, Viciebsk region, Viasna said. He may be held in a punishment cell, as his family has not heard from him for about one month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities seized and put up for sale a car belonging to Valeryj Ramano\u016dski, the former air intelligence head jailed in a politically-motivated case linked to alleged high treason, the Vitebsk, ya gulayu!<\/em> Telegram channel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of June 11, <\/a>human rights defenders identified at least 1,396 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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Catechist appealing three-year prison sentence<\/h3>\n
June 10, Pozirk. On Tuesday, Judge Andrej Jafrema\u016d of the Supreme Court will hear catechist U\u0142adzis\u0142a\u016d Bie\u0142adzied's appeal behind closed doors, an electronic court schedule says. In mid-March, Bie\u0142adzied was given three years in prison on charges of inciting hatred …<\/div>\n \n