News on the topic: criminal prosecution
20.01.2021 Freedom for human rights activists Leanid Sudalenka and Maryia Tarasenka!
Joint statement of Belarusian human rights organizations
20.01.2021 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders condemns arbitrary detention of Viasna members Leanid Sudalenka and Maria Tarasenka
The Observatory has been informed by the Human Rights Center “Viasna” about the arbitrary detention of Leanid Sudalenka, lawyer of the Homieĺ (Gomel) branch of Viasna, and Maria Tarasenka, Viasna’s volunteer and Mr. Sudalenka’s assistant.
19.01.2021 Leanid Sudalenka: “My arrest was lawless. I guess my release will be as lawless!”
Viasna’s human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka left this message on the situation related to the charges he is facing marked “Publish after arrest”.
19.01.2021 Viasna’s Leanid Sudalenka held on criminal charges
Leanid Sudalenka, a human rights activist and head of Viasna’s branch in Homieĺ, was detained last morning, January 18, according to local activist Vasil Paliakou. Sudalenka was then taken to the Investigative Committee’s city office for questioning.
18.01.2021 Immediately release political prisoners Andrei Aliaksandrau and Iryna Zlobina!
Joint statement of Belarusian human rights organizations
16.01.2021 HRDs call for retrials in cases of political prisoners Dzmitry Karatkevich, Andrei Tsimafeyenka and Siarhei Yafimau
Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community
15.01.2021 Political prisoner Artsiom Miadzvedski sentenced to three years of “restricted freedom”, released in the courtroom
Judge Tatsiana Shotsik of the Lieninski District Court of Minsk sentenced today political prisoner Artsiom Miadzvedski to three years of “restricted freedom” in an open-type penal facility, so called “khimiya”. The convict was released in the courtroom to await appeal hearing.
15.01.2021 Political prisoner Artsiom Khvashcheuski sentenced to one year in prison
The Frunzienski District Court of Minsk sentenced today political prisoner Artsiom Khvashcheuski to one year in a general security penal colony. Khvashcheuski was found guilty of “organizing group actions which gravely breach public order” (Article 342 of the Criminal Code).
14.01.2021 Statement on recognizing five members of Press Club Belarus as political prisoners
Joint statement by Belarusian human rights organizations
12.01.2021 Members of the German Bundestag take over godparenthood for Yury Bialko and David Mastsitski
As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco, Christoph Matschie (SPD) and Alexander Krauß (CDU) have taken over a godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus.
11.01.2021 9 new political prisoners in Belarus
Joint statement by the human rights organizations of Belarus
06.01.2021 In 2020, more than 100 people were convicted in politically motivated criminal cases
In the last two months of 2020, dozens of criminal cases finally reached courts. Viasna has been able to track at least 103 sentences handed down in criminal cases related to the events that took place during and after the August 9 presidential election.
31.12.2020 Press Club leaders charged in ‘tax evasion’ case
Yuliya Slutskaya, founder of Press Club Belarus, was formally charged under Part 2 of Article 243 (tax evasion on an especially large scale), euroradio.fm said. She will remain in custody until at least February 22.
31.12.2020 Three more German MPs take over godparenthood for political prisoners in Belarus
As part of the solidarity campaign #WeStandBYyou of Libereco, Erhard Grundl (Bündnis90/The Greens), Maria Klein-Schmeink (Bündnis90/The Greens) and Gunther Krichbaum (CDU) have taken over a godparenthood for political prisoners Tsimur Pipiya, Tamaz Pipiya and Artsiom Vinakurau.
29.12.2020 Political prisoners Kireshchanka and Harokh sentenced to 1 1/2 and 7 years in prison
The Court of Navahrudak district sentenced today Dzianis Kireshchanka and Uladzimir Harokh to 18 months and 7 years in prison, respectively, finding them guilty of “organizing riots” (Parts 1 and 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code). Both were earlier called political prisoners by the country’s leading human rights groups, including Viasna.
