November: record number of families prosecuted
In November, the Viasna Human Rights Center observed a continuing trend toward criminal prosecution of citizens for political reasons. Over the past month, at least 144 people have become victims of criminal repression, of whom 35 are women and 109 are men. Four more people were convicted in special proceedings.
78 people were convicted in Minsk in September
The prosecution in politically motivated criminal cases in different regions in November looked as follows:
- Minsk — 78 people;
- Brest region — 28 people;
- Homieĺ region — 9 people;
- Minsk region — 12 people;
- Hrodna region — 8 people;
- Viciebsk region — 3 people;
- Mahilioŭ region — 6 people;
Record number of families prosecutedr
During November, a record number of married couples or groups of relatives who came under politically motivated criminal prosecution were recorded. The Minsk City Court heard the case against Henadz and Iryna Saurytski, as well as their daughter Viyaleta Viarbitskaya, under Part 3 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code, which stipulates liability for inciting hatred. The Brest Regional Court heard the case against Uladzislau and Tatsiana Kasheyeu under the article for treason.
Ten more groups of relatives were persecuted in November under Article 342. The case against Ihar and Katsiaryna Hramovich, as well as Andrei, Hanna, and Tatsiana Vashchyshyn, was heard in the Frunzenski District Court of Minsk. The Kastryčnicki District Court of Minsk handled the cases against Mark Kunitski and Iryna Pratazanava-Kunitskaya, as well as Siarhei and Anzhela Sandaliuk.
The Tsentraĺny District Court of Minsk heard the case against Aleh and Dziyana Siniauski. The Zavadskoj District Court of Minsk handled the case against Hanna, Ina, and Raman Usmanau. The case against Aksana and Andrei Salavei was heard in the Peršamajski District Court of Minsk. The Dziarzhynsk District Court heard the cases against Darya and Mikhail Navosh, as well as Illia and Alesia Zhyburt. The cases against Aliaksandr and Anton Nevar were handled in the Pinsk District Court with an interval of one day.
An increase in repeated and subsequent convictions
In November, Viasna recorded five cases of repeated persecution of citizens previously prosecuted in politically motivated criminal cases. The case against Siarhei Arlou was heard in the Tsentraĺny District Court of Minsk under the article on resistance to an employee of the internal affairs bodies. In July 2022, the Čavusy District Court convicted the man under an article stipulating liability for insulting a representative of the authorities. The Frunzenski District Court of Minsk handled the case against Tsimur Khairulin under the article on insulting a representative of the authorities. In August 2022, the man was persecuted by the Minsk City Court under this article and the article stipulating responsibility for inciting hatred.
The Miadzeĺ District Court handled the case against environmental activist Stanislau Taspayeu under articles on repeated violations of the procedure for organizing or holding mass events and discrediting the Republic of Belarus. Exactly three years ago, the man was persecuted by the same court under an article on defamation and sentenced to two years of restriction of freedom without being sent to an open-type correctional facility.
The Maladzečna District Court heard a case under the article stipulating responsibility for insulting Lukashenka against Anton Puhach, who six months ago was sentenced by the Leninski District Court of Mahilioŭ to one and a half years of imprisonment under the same article and the article stipulating responsibility for insulting a representative of the authorities.
The Kobryn District Court handled the case under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus against Uladzislau Nastsiushkin. A year ago, in the same court, he was convicted under an article stipulating responsibility for the development, use, distribution, or sale of malicious computer programs or special software or hardware.
Further persecution of political prisoners
In November, the trend of arbitrary persecution of political prisoners who were repressed at the very beginning of the political crisis in mid-2020, whose term of imprisonment was coming to an end at the end of 2024, became visible. The Babrujsk District Court handled the cases against Pavel Spiryn and Dzmitry Kazlou under Article 411, which stipulates repeated and arbitrary extension of the imprisonment term for "malicious disobedience to the requirements of the administration of a correctional institution."
In the same court and under the same article, the case against Siarhei Kanavalau was heard. In September 2022, the man was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 15 years under articles on an act of terrorism, intentionally damaging a vehicle or communication lines, and inciting hatred.
In November, Article 411 of the Criminal Code was applied to extend the sentence of Aliaksandr Aranovich, who was sentenced to six years of imprisonment for preparing for mass riots and organizing actions that grossly violate public order.
