What happened to political prisoners last week, July 11 to 15
There are already 1,256 political prisoners in Belarus and counting. Every week the courts hand down new sentences and those already in custody receive new charges. But there are also those who have served their term and are finally released. Viasna has collected all the news about political prisoners for this week.
This week the list of political prisoners was updated with 26 new names: Valeryi Trotski, Artsiom Anishchuk, Siarhei Babko, Katsiaryna Balabanovich, Uladzimir Serhienka, Viktar Rusin, Uladzislau Hancharou, Aliaksei Chekel, Ihar Faleichyk, Aliaksei Viacherni, Yauhen Yarmak, Dzmitryi Sidorkin, Artsiom Lamanosau, Hanna Lapo, Yauhen Batura, Aliaksei Lisouski, Aliaksandr Hurnik, Dzmitryi Ivanou, Tatsiana Talochka, Stanislau Kabeshau, Palina Kabeshava, Pavel Maksimau, Viktoryia Navitskaya, Yuliya Mudreuskaya, Vital Brahinets, and Yuryi Hladchuk
From July 11 to 15, at least nine political prisoners were convicted in courts:
- On 12 July 2022, Judge Katsiaryna Hruda sentenced Kanstantsin Rudnitski, a Brest State Technical University student, to six years in a medium-security penal colony and a fine of BYN 3,200 rubles (USD 1,270) for developing software (web button) for Black map of the occupiers website, which locates members of the security services involved in the crackdown on the opposition. He was convicted under Part 6 of Article 16 and Part 3 of Article 203-1 (aiding in unlawful acts with personal data) and Part 6 of Article 16 and Part 3 of Article 130 (aiding in inciting hatred) of the Criminal Code.
Student gets six years in jail for creating a button for website
- On July 13, 2022, the Minsk Regional Court sentenced Vital Loika to 24 months of imprisonment and a fine of BYN 3,200 (about USD 1,270) under Article 369 of the Criminal Code (insulting a government official) and Article 130 of the Criminal Code (inciting hatred). Judge Alena Misnik considered the case.
- On July 13, 2022, Homieĺ Regional Court pronounced the sentence on a political prisoner, a journalist for the Belsat TV channel Katsiaryna Andreyeva. Judge Aleh Kharoshka sentenced her to eight years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony for high treason (Part 1 Article 356 of the Criminal Code). The closed-door trial was held in three sessions. In addition, Katsiaryna still has to serve three months left on her first sentence Article 342 of the Criminal Code for a live broadcast from the place of the violent police crackdown on a peaceful protest in the Square of Change in Minsk on November 15, 2020.
Journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva sentenced to eight years in prison for high treason
- On July 14, 2022, Judge Tatsiana Pirozhnikava announced the verdict of the political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich and his wife Nasta Dashkevich, finding them guilty under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (participation in actions that grossly violate public order). The judge sentenced Zmitser to 18 months of imprisonment in a penal colony, and Nasta to three years of restricted freedom under home confinement. Zmitser and Nasta were accused of participating in the protest on August 23, 2020.
Dashkevich family convicted
- Volha Rytus was sentenced by the Frunzienski District Court of Minsk to three years of restricted freedom under home confinement on July 14, 2022. She was tried under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (Group actions grossly violating public order) for her participation in the post-election protests in 2020.
- On July 14, 2022, the Brest Regional Court found journalist Yuryi Hantsarevich guilty of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 361-4 (promotion of extremist activity) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus and sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony.
Journalist convicted for taking pics of military aircraft
- On July 14, Judge Aliaksei Khlyshchankou found Ihar Halushka guilty and sentenced him to two years and six months in a general-security penal colony. Halushka was tried under Article 368 (insulting the President) and Article 130 (inciting social hatred) of the Criminal Code for his comments on a political topic between 2020–2021.
- Anastasiya Malashuk and Aliaksei Kedysh were convicted under Article 342 of the Criminal Code for group actions grossly violating public order on July 15, 2022. The Lieninski District Court of Minsk found guilty them guilty and sentenced both to three years of restricted freedom under home confinement.
Three previous convictions also came to light this week:
- On March 30, 2022, Aliaksei Arbuzau was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment for group actions grossly violating public order (Article 342 of the Criminal Code). His wife Daria Arbuzavawas sentenced under the same article of the Criminal Code to 24 months of restricted freedom under home confinement.
- On April 6, 2022, Uladzislau Kruk was found guilty in a criminal case of group actions grossly violating public order (Article 342 of the Criminal Code) and sentenced to three years of restricted freedom in an open-type penitentiary facility.
- On 14 June 2022, a criminal case against Pavel Piaskou under Article 411 of the Criminal Code (malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of a penal institution) was heard in the Babrujsk and Babrujsk District Court. As a result, Judge Pavel Kartsinin sentenced the political prisoner to 12 more months of imprisonment, after the terms were added up, to six months.
Human rights defenders learned, that Aksana Kaspiarovich fully served 14 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and was released on July 8, 2022.
Libereco’s solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou continues. Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Austrian Nationalrat, Green Party), Lena Werner (German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party), and Ophelia Nick (German Bundestag, Alliance 90/The Greens) have taken on godparenthood for Halina Dzerbysh, Vital Shyshlou, and Aliaksei Kudasau.
German and Austrian MPs adopt three political prisoners
