In September, at least 16 women are tried for solidarity with political prisoners
For four months now, trials of women who were detained during the January KGB raid for solidarity with political prisoners have been taking place in Belarus. According to Viasna, at least 16 trials of political prisoners are planned for September alone, and four more women will be tried in October. Most of those who were persecuted in January are women and relatives of political prisoners. Some of them were convicted in administrative cases for "using foreign aid to carry out extremist activities" (Article 24.15 of the Administrative Code) and subjected to heavy fines and paying compensation for assistance, and criminal cases were initiated against several dozen people for "facilitating extremist activities."
According to Viasna, about 30 people are currently in a pre-trial detention center. Almost all are women, most of whom are over the age of 50. Criminal cases have been initiated against the detainees for "facilitating extremist activities" under Part 1 and Part 2 of Articles 361-4 of the Criminal Code. This article stipulates the punishment of up to seven years of penal colony.
The essence of the accusation is that they allegedly got information about political prisoners from organizations recognized in Belarus as "extremist formations", i. e. from the Internet pages of human rights organizations and initiatives that have published calls for support for political prisoners.
Thus, Iryna Takarchuk, Alesia Siarheyenka, Alena Dzemianchuk, Nadzeya Leskavets, Yuliya Krautsova, Natallia Kharytonava-Kryzhevich have been convicted. Women have been sentenced to up to three years of penal colony.
In September, Kseniya Susha, a former employee of the National Library, Alena Totskaya, a Homieĺ activist, Natallia Davydulina, the mother of former political prisoner Dzianis Davydulin, Salihorsk resident Iryna Klezovich, Tatsiana Stsepa, Katsiaryna Mendrik, Maryna Gatsura, Inna Plakhatniuk, and nurse Alena Bobr were tried for "promoting extremist activities".
In addition, dermatologist Alesia Dzernakouskaya, psychologist Natallia Varabei, Maryna Aliseyenka and Alena Liasneuskaya will also be tried in October.
