What happened to political prisoners on October 17–23

There are currently 1,349 political prisoners in Belarus—and counting. Every week the courts keep handing down new sentences and laying new charges against those already in custody. But there are also those who have served their term and are finally released. Viasna has collected all the news about political prisoners from the third week of October.

Political prisoner count

This week the list of political prisoners was updated with 17 new names of defendants in Autukhovich and Flying Storks cases convicted of terrorism and those who were selectively and discriminatorily convicted of hatred incitement in an apparent attempt of the authorities to protect the state bodies.

Latest convictions

Between October 17–23, human rights defenders learned about at least 18 political prisoners who were convicted in court.

Persecution for 2020 peaceful protests

Four people were convicted of ‘group actions grossly violating the public order’ under the “people’s article” 342 of the Criminal Code for their participation in 2020 protests:

• On July 25, 2022, Judge Yuliya Shchotkina of the Lieninski District Court convicted Dzianis Korshun, an employee of Brø bakery in Minsk. The political prisoner was sentenced to two and a half years of restricted freedom under home confinement.
• On September 14, 2022, Judge Dzmitryi Astapenka of the Zavadski District Court of Minsk convicted Alena Androshchyk and sentenced her to two and a half years of restricted freedom under home confinement.
• On October 18, 2022, Judge Siarhei Katser of the Maskoŭski District Court of Minsk pronounced a verdict on Dzianis Sharametsyeu and Sviatlana Sharametsyeva, husband and wife. There were both sentenced to jail terms—Dzianis Sharametsyeu received 24 months of imprisonment and Sviatlana Sharametsyeva received 18 months.

Zeltser case

Sentencing in the Zeltser case continues. In this case, hundreds of people are prosecuted for commenting on the internet about the fatal shooting between KGB officer Dzmitryi Fedasiuk and IT specialist Andrei Zeltser.

• On October 17, 2022, Judge Vera Halaukova of the Minsk Municipal Court found Aliaksandr Tsymbalist guilty in the Zeltser case and sentenced him to 19 months of imprisonment. Tsymbalist was found guilty of ‘insulting a police officer’ and ‘inciting hatred’ under Articles 369 and 130 of the Criminal Code.

Rail guerillas

Another verdict has been handed down for damaging the railroad tracks in a desperate attempt to stop Russian military transport going through Belarus to Ukraine:

• On 17 October 2022, the Minsk District Court sentenced the ‘rail guerilla’ Siarhei Hlebka to 11 years in a medium-security penal colony and a fine of 9,600 Belarusian rubles ($3,800). Judge Anton Kolabau found him guilty of committing ‘a terrorism act’ (Article 289 of the Criminal Code) in open court. Hlebka was detained on the night of March 1 to 2 in Stoŭbcy together with his wife for setting logs on fire on the railroad tracks. On July 7, 2022, the KGB put Siarhei Hlebka on the list of terrorists.

Autukhovich case

On October 17, 2022, the Hrodna Regional Court pronounced the verdicts on the high-profile Autukhovich case.

All of the defendants were detained in December–January 2020. The authorities immediately declared Autukhovich the organizer and leader of a “terrorist group” that operated in the Hrodna region and allegedly set police officers’ cars and houses on fire. The accusations included ‘high treason’, ‘an act of terrorism’, and ‘attempted seizure of state power by unconstitutional means’.

The trial lasted five months. Judge Maksim Filatau imposed jail terms ranging from two and a half to 25 years. Deputy chair of the prosecutor's office Liudmila Herasimenka and senior assistant prosecutor Rabau represented the state prosecution at the trial. The people's assessors were Stavorka, Zhdanovich, and Nichypor.

• Mikalai Autukhovich, a veteran of the Soviet–Afghan War, an entrepreneur, and a public figure, received 25 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony. According to the indictments, he will serve the first five years in a maximum-security prison, and the rest of his term in a penal colony. He was also fined 32,000 Belarusian rubles ($12,600) and stripped of his rank of retired Chief Warrant Officer. Autukhovich was convicted under 10 articles of the Criminal Code including ‘high treason’ and ‘an act of terrorism’.
• Pavel Sava received 20 years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony and a fine of 22,400 Belarusian rubles ($8,800).
• Viktar Snehur received 19 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony and a fine of 25,600 Belarusian rubles ($10,100).
• Iryna Harachkina received six years and one month of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 9,600 Belarusian rubles ($3,800).
• Volha Mayorava, a political activist and a member of the United Civil Party, received 20 years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 25,600 Belarusian rubles ($10,100).
• Uladzimir Hundar, an activist and a historian, received 18 years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony and a fine of 25,600 Belarusian rubles ($10,100).
• Siarhei Rezanovich, an Orthodox priest, received 16 years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 19,200 Belarusian rubles ($7,600).
• Liubou Rezanovich received 15 years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 19,200 Belarusian rubles ($7,600).
• Pavel Rezanovich received 19 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony and a fine of 25,600 Belarusian rubles ($10,100).
• Halina Dzerbysh, a retired accountant, received 20 years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 22,400 Belarusian rubles ($8,800).
• Iryna Melkher, an entrepreneur, received 17 years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 22,400 Belarusian rubles ($8,800).
• Anton Melkher was sentenced to two and a half years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony for ‘active participation in actions that grossly violate the public order’ (Part 1 of Article 342). He was released in the courtroom because his detention was credited to his sentence.

Released

Last week, first responder Aliaksandr Kurhanski (sentenced to 18 months), car mechanic Uladzislau Hulis (sentenced to 24 months), and Aleh Filipau (sentenced to 18 months) served their terms in full as well and were released from penal colonies.

Other news

• Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk was transferred to the cell-type premises for six months. In addition, the woman is again prosecuted for ‘malicious disobedience to the administration of the colony’. She faces another 24 months in jail.
• Yuliya Laptanovich had her sentence reduced by three months on appeal, from five years to four years and nine months, and her fine was reduced by almost 1,000 Belarusian rubles ($400).
• Inmates of the Babrujsk colony have been forbidden to talk to political blogger Pavel Spiryn. Any interaction with him is punished with days in a punishment cell. It is known that Pavel works in the colony as a dishwasher.
• Andrei Stsepanenka was denied receiving a parcel immediately upon arrival at the Babrujsk colony. Later he was placed in a punishment cell for a week.
• Mikalai Autukhovich was placed in a punishment cell for seven days. Also, the jail store officers have not visited him for two months, so he cannot place an order for groceries from that store.
• A new criminal case was filed against war expert Yahor Lebiadok. Presumably, he has been charged with ‘facilitating extremist activity’ under Part 2 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code.
• Zmitser Dashkevich has been kept in a punishment cell for a week and a half now.