{"id":96411,"date":"2024-07-19T11:14:15","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T08:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/96411\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-target-2020-protesters-exiled-activists-support-networks","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/96411\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals target 2020 protesters, exiled activists, support networks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

July 19, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> New instances of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus on July 18 as pro-government sources reported more arrests of 2020 protesters: a Minsk woman, presumably Darja \u015aciebunova, and Brest businessman Ja\u016dhien By\u010dko. The latter was arrested during a road police check on the M1 highway, Mediazona<\/em> said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The Investigative Committee said it forwarded a case against the Imaguru innovation company to a prosecutor for referral to court. Charges against exiled Ta\u0107ciana Maryni\u010d, head of the startup hub, and her associate Anastasija Chamiankova range from inciting hatred and calling for sanctions to association with an extremist group and plotting to seize state power. Investigators confirmed that an unnamed former Imaguru executive is in custody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next week, Ludmi\u0142a Dejneka, a court consultant from Minsk, will go on trial on charges of inciting hatred in connection with politically-sensitive social media posts, Na\u0161a Niva<\/em> said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Businessman U\u0142adzimir Zachara\u016d from Po\u0142ack, Viciebsk region, is accused of tax evasion and discrediting the state, the electronic court schedule says. Two months ago, the man posted a video address to Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka denying his guilt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later this month, a judge in Minsk will open proceedings against Viktar \u010cajka, a suspected administrator of Belarusian community chat in Sri Lanka who faces protest-related charges, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U\u0142adzimir Bas\u0142yk, jailed on charges widely seen as politically motivated, will go on a new trial for allegedly insulting and slandering \u0141uka\u0161enka, Viasna noted. Authorities also blacklisted the man as a terrorist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Palina \u0160arenda-Panasiuk was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis, her husband Andrej \u0160arenda said on Facebook. Her family and Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja said they fear for her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mahilo\u016d region\u2019s prosecutor ruled to restrict access in Belarus to apbel.com<\/em>, representing an initiative by former Belarusian political prisoners, the prosecutor\u2019s press office reported, citing violations of the media law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of July 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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