In February, at least 50 people convicted in protest-related criminal trials
The Human Rights Center “Viasna” continues to monitor politically motivated criminal trials related to the exercise by citizens of their fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Starting with the election campaign for the presidential elections in 2020, the Belarusian authorities have been actively using the judicial system in order to suppress any criticism of the authorities and discussions on the further development of the state.
Throughout February the Human Rights Center Viasna recorded a continuing trend of criminal prosecution of citizens for political reasons. In February 2022, the number of political prisoners increased by at least 50 people.
HRC Viasna is aware of at least 50 citizens who were convicted in the frames of the protest-related criminal trials in February 2022. Of those, 84% are men and 16% are women.
Of all February sentences known to human rights defenders, almost two-thirds (64%) were under the defamation articles, which the human rights community has long insisted on excluding from the Criminal Code. 16% were convicted under the article on preparation of group actions grossly violating public order or active participation in them. 6% of people were convicted for protest graffiti, inscriptions, and images. In addition to defamation articles, 4% of citizens were charged with organizing and preparing actions that grossly violated public order or property damage.
Human rights defenders recorded that in February judges continued to impose penalties related to imprisonment and restriction of freedom on those involved in “protest” criminal cases, as well as large fines for protest graffiti. February sentences in numbers:
- 18 people sentenced to a total of 61 years and 6 months of imprisonment;
- 16 people sentenced to a total of 34 years and 8 months of freedom restriction in an open penitentiary;
- 11 people sentenced to a total of 22 years and 2 months of freedom restriction without being sent to an open correctional facility;
- 2 people sentenced to a total of 6 months under arrest;
- 3 people received fines totaling 17,280 rubles (about USD 5,600);
- 6 people received fines totaling 22,400 rubles (about USD 7,250) as an additional punishment;
- 3 people were sentenced to compulsory medical treatment along with restriction of freedom.
In February, the courts applied imprisonment in about one-third of cases (36%). Another one-third of the sentences (32%) involved restriction of freedom in the form of imprisonment in open penitentiaries. Home confinement was ordered in 22% of cases. Arrest (short terms of imprisonment) was used as a punishment in 4% of cases. Fines constituted 6% of all sentences.
Thus, various types of custodial sentences were handed down in 94% of the politically motivated cases.
