Picks of the week
On May 10, Ingush blogger Ismail Nalgiev was deported from Belarus, despite his appeal against the decision still being considered by a court in Minsk, belapan.by said.
The Ingush opposition blogger and journalist Ismail Nalgiev was arrested at the airport on May 8 when leaving the country. He was told that he was on the Russian list of wanted persons.
After the arrest, a number of Belarusian human rights groups issued a statement to demand respect for the blogger’s rights. The statement says the deportation is linked to Nalgiev’s role in the Ingush-Chechen border protests.
He is prohibited from visiting Belarus in the next 10 years.
- Ingush blogger Ismail Nalgiev during an action of solidarity with Chechen human rights activist Ouyb Titiev. Photo: kavkaz-uzel.eu
Former political prisoner Dzmitry Paliyenka will mark his 25th birthday in prison, after the authorities ordered his transfer from a mental hospital in Minsk to a pre-trial facility in Žodzina. The activist was evaluated by psychiatrists as part of a criminal case opened in March.
Paliyenka is charged with three criminal offenses. The investigation is expected to be completed by late May. If found guilty, Amnesty International’s former prisoner of conscience may be imprisoned for up to 10 years.
- Dzmitry Paliyenka. Photo: spring96.org
Henadz Fiadynich, leader of the REP independent trade union, has been relieved of several minor restrictions as part of his 4-year “house imprisonment,” praca-by.info said. In particular, Fiadynich will be able to check his mailbox at off-work time. He will also enjoy two extra hours to go shopping or see a doctor.
However, the trade union leader is still under heavy movement restrictions. In particular, he can’t leave home on the weekend and on public holidays.
On August 24, 2018, Henadz Fiadynich and REP’s chief accountant Ihar Komlik were sentenced to 4 years of restricted freedom each and the prohibition to hold managerial positions for the period of 5 years.
Belarusian human rights organization called the verdict a politically motivated decision and demanded its immediate reversal.
- REP leader Henadz Fiadynich during the trial in August 2018. Photo: spring96.org
