What happened to political prisoners from January 15 to 26
For over three years, the security forces in Belarus have been relentlessly carrying out mass repressions. Each week, the number of political prisoners increases, and human rights defenders receive daily updates about detainees' terrible conditions, pressure from the prison administration, and the worsening health of political prisoners in custody. Viasna provides a weekly overview of the latest news on political prisoners.
12 people have been recognized as political prisoners over the past week. At the moment, there are 1,419 people on the list of political prisoners. In addition, human rights activists learned that five political prisoners had served their sentences and were released: Dzianis Khazei, Aliaksandr Luchynovich, Ihar Fiodarau, Uladzislau Tsimashchuk, Aliaksandr Bakunovich.
Human rights activists also learned about the verdict of political prisoner Kseniya Ryzhyk: two and a half years of home confinement.
The verdict of the TOR BAND musicians was left unchanged. They were transferred to penal colonies
On January 5, the Supreme Court considered the appeals of the political prisoners and musicians of a famous Belarusian music act Tor Band, whose songs became a symbol of protest in 2020. The judicial board, chaired by judge Tatsiana Vasilevich, left the verdict unchanged, and the complaints were not satisfied.
Recall that in Homeĺ in October the sentences of the musicians were announced: Yauhen Burlo was sentenced to eight years in a penal colony, Dzmitryi Halavach — to nine years in a penal colony, and Andrei Yaremchyk — to seven and a half years in a penal colony. The security level has been raised for everyone and a fine of 3700 roubles (around 1050 euros) was imposed. Depending on the role of each, they were charged under four articles of the Criminal Code.
Political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich was transferred to a colony and immediately placed in a punishment cell
Nasta Dashkevich wrote on her Facebook about the latest news about her husband:
"Zmitser stayed in Žodzina for six months in a concrete cage. From July to January, in a punishment cell. Now he has been transferred back to Navasady. The same place where a criminal case was opened against him. Now he is back in a punishment cell, where he complains of horrible cold. He says he has to get up to exercise eight times a night to keep warm. And then reports are drawn up against him because he is not in bed after lights out…
...I do not know how to cope with all household issues and four children without him, how to do all the children's homework, to have a job, to cope with plates and soups, if I know that my husband is shaking with cold in a Navasady cell? I've never learned to live with it. I'm afraid for his life and his health..."
The case of political prisoner Sviatlana Karol was transferred to the prosecutor's office
Sviatlana is a senior citizen and cycling activist from Homieĺ, chairwoman of VelaHomieĺ regional public association. In 2020, the woman joined the Homieĺ Coordinating Council.
The woman was detained in late September in Homeĺ. Sviatlana is accused of "slandering Lukashenka" (Article 367 of the Criminal Code), as well as of "inciting social hatred or hostility against" (Article 130 of the Criminal Code).
According to human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka, Sviatlana's criminal case was transferred to the prosecutor's office for submission to court.
The verdict of the editor of Rehiyanalnaya Hazeta Aliaksandr Mantsevich was left unchanged
On January 23, the Minsk Regional Court considered the journalist's appeal. The judicial board chaired by judge Uladzimir Areshka left the verdict unchanged, and the complaint was not satisfied.
Recall that in the Maladzečna District Court on November 3, Mantsevich was sentenced to four years in prison, as well as a fine of 14,800 rubles. The journalist was accused of discrediting the Republic of Belarus under Article 369-1 of the Criminal Code.
According to the materials of the criminal case, Mantsevich, being the editorial director of the newspaper, together with other persons from January 1, 2020 to March 15, 2023 was "disseminating deliberately false information through a printed edition and the newspaper's Internet resources, which discredited Belarus and its government."
In Vaŭkavysk, a political prisoner was convicted of "malicious disobedience to the administration of the colony"
Vadzim Huseu from Ščučyn served time in an open-type correctional facility under Article 328 of the Criminal Code, where his sentence was commuted from restriction of liberty to imprisonment.
In July 2023, Vadzim was tried in Ščučyn under Article 369 of the Criminal Code. According to the prosecution, while in an open-type correctional facility, he wrote "offensive" comments about government officials, which he was sentenced for to one year and three months in a high security colony.
It has now become known that on January 22, the next trial of the political prisoner took place in Vaŭkavysk. This time he was charged under Article 411 of the Criminal Code (Malicious disobedience to the demands of the colony administration). The case was considered by judge Mikalai Siarheika. The result is still unknown.
Political prisoner Ryhor Kastusiou was transferred to Hrodna prison
Recall that on January 15, a trial was held in the Ivacevičy District Court to replace the security level for the political prisoner. By the decision of judge Siarhei Kukhatskavalets, the chairman of the BPF Party was transferred to Hrodna prison #1. This was announced by his son-in-law Dzmitryi Antonchyk.
Recall that Ryhor was detained on April 12, 2021 in Škloŭ in the case under Article 357 of the Criminal Code "conspiracy or other actions committed with the aim of seizing state power." He was later sentenced to 10 years in a penal colony. In November, it became known that the political prisoner was placed in a secure housing unit (SHU) for 6 months.
There, Ryhor's health problems worsened: he was diagnosed with cancer.
The UN Working Group recognized violations of the rights of political prisoner and lawyer Vital Brahinets
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) reviewed the case of political prisoner and lawyer Vital Brahinets and concluded that Belarus had violated his rights. The complaint to WGAD was prepared by lawyers of a human rights organization Respect-Protect-Fulfill and the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers.
WGAD admitted that Brahinets' imprisonment was motivated by discrimination based on political views and his status as an "opposition lawyer", since he defended clients in politically motivated trials. The arbitrariness of his detention is also supported by the fact that he was arrested for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly.
In addition, the lawyer's right to a fair trial was grossly violated.
The UN Working Group recognized violations of the rights of political prisoner and lawyer Vital Brahinets
At least 160 people were persecuted during a mass crackdown on relatives of political prisoners
Throughout Belarus, on January 23, KGB officers conducted mass searches, interrogations, and detentions of relatives and loved ones of political prisoners, as well as former political prisoners who had recently left prison and remained in the country.
According to Viasna, at least 160 people were persecuted. After the searches, people were taken away for interrogation, and then released with a non-disclosure agreement. But not everyone was released. Criminal cases were opened against some of them under Articles 361-1 (participation in extremist formation) and Articles 361-4 (assistance to extremist activities). Some are tried in administrative cases.
According to preliminary information, the reason for the interest from the KGB was the assistance to the families of political prisoners from the initiative INeedHelpBY, which the authorities recently recognized as an "extremist formation". To help, the initiative used popular delivery services from Gippo and Evroopt stores. One can order online delivery from these stores and pay either on the website or upon receipt of groceries.
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