What happened to political prisoners on September 5–11

There are currently 1,329 political prisoners in Belarus – and counting. Every week the courts keep handing down new sentences and laying new charges against those already in custody. But there are also those who have served their term and are finally released. Viasna has collected all the news about political prisoners on September 5–11.

Political prisoner count

This week the list of political prisoners was updated with 17 new names.

Latest convictions

Between September 5 and 11, human rights defenders learned about at least 30 political prisoners who were convicted in courts:

• On September 1, 2022, the Homieĺ Regional Court convicted digital artist Viktar Kulinka. He was found guilty of ‘promoting extremist activities’ and sentenced to three years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code. The reason for the case was Kulinka’s photos of a Russian military convoy heading toward Homieĺ that he sent to a Telegram channel.

• On September 7, 2022, the Homieĺ Regional Court found a taxi driver and Red Cross volunteer Aleh Khramykh guilty of ‘promoting extremist activities’ (Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code) for posting three messages on the Internet that a plane was flying over Homieĺ, showing the time and geolocation, as well as posting a video of Russian vehicles moving around. Khramykh was sentenced to 3.5 years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony.
• On September 8, 2022, Vera Valnistaya was found guilty of ‘participating in group actions grossly violating the public order’ under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code. A month ago, on August 8, 2022, Valnistaya was found guilty of ‘insulting a government official’ under Article 369 of the Criminal Code as well and was sentenced to two years of restricted freedom under home confinement and a fine of 1,000 Belarusian rubles (equivalent to $400) in material compensation for moral damages. The political prisoner remained in pre-trial center, as she was still to stand trial under Article 342. Eventually, she was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom under home confinement and released in the courtroom.
• On September 5, Judge Yuliya Krepskaya of the Frunzienski District Court of Minsk found spouses Palina Kabeshava and Stanislau Kabeshau guilty of ‘participating in group actions that grossly violate public order’ (Article 342 of the Criminal Code ) and sentenced each of them to three years of imprisonment under home confinement. They were released in the courtroom.

Another batch of verdicts was passed in Zeltser case brought mostly against people who commented on the internet on the fatal shooting between KGB officer Dzmitryi Fedasiuk and IT specialist Andrei Zeltser:

• On August 5, 2022, the Minsk Municipal Court sentenced Tsimur Khairulin, a defendant in Zeltser case. He was found guilty of ‘insulting a government official’ (Article 369 of the Criminal Code) and ‘inciting hatred’ (Article 130 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 2.5 years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony.
• On August 24, 2022, the Mahilioŭ Regional Court found Yauhen Rakevich guilty of ‘insulting a government official’ (Article 369 of the Criminal Code) and ‘inciting hatred’ (Article 130 of the Criminal Code) and sentenced him to two years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 3,200 Belarusian rubles ($1,300). During the trial the defendant pleaded guilty partially, explaining that he had written the comments, driven by strong emotions.
• On August 30, 2022, the Homiel Regional Court convicted Pavel Hancharyk of ‘incitement to hatred’ (Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code) and ‘insulting the President’ (Part 1 of Article 368) and sentenced to three years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony.
• On September 2, 2022, Mikalai Dzemchanka was convicted of ‘discrediting the Republic of Belarus’ (Article 369-1 of the Criminal Code) and sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony.
• On September 6, 2022, later Judge Vera Filonik of the Brest Regional Court found Ina Mozhchanka guilty of ‘insulting government official’ and ‘inciting hatred’ and taken into custody under Articles 369 and 130 of the Criminal Code, and sentenced her to three years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 3,200 Belarusian rubles ($1,300).
• On September 7, 2022, the Homieĺ Regional Court sentenced Aleh Kanavalau, the creator of the The Third Region of Belarus YouTube channel. He was accused of de-anonymizing the security forces and “posting anti-government information on the social network, promote resistance to the authorities.” Kanavalau uploaded videos from Belarusian solidarity rallies in Kyiv to his channel. He was also accused of “cynical comments” about the deceased KGB officer Dzmitryi Fedasiuk. As the result, Kanavalau was found guilty under five articles of the Criminal Code and sentenced to five years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony. The judge also ordered a fine of 3,200 Belarusian rubles ($1,300) and compensation for moral damage in favor of the injured policeman in the amount of 5,000 Belarusian rubles ($2,000).
• Also in September 2022, Dzmitry Dziameshka was convicted of ‘insulting the President’, ‘insulting a government official’, and ‘inciting hatred’ under Articles 368, 369, and 130 of the Criminal Code. Dziameshka was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility. During the trial, it became known that a month before the hearing of his case, Dziameshka's preventive measure was changed from detention to house arrest. The political prisoner was released in the courtroom awaiting the commencement of the sentence.
• On September 9, 2022, the Hrodna Regional Court sentenced Aliaksei Sianko. Judge Anatol Zayats found the political prisoner guilty of ‘insulting a government official’ and ‘inciting hatred’ under Articles 369 and 130 of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to two years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony. Previously, the KGB put Sianko on the list of ‘persons involved in terrorist activities’.

On September 5, 2022, the Minsk Regional Court pronounced the verdicts on the high-profile case of ‘conspiracy to seize state power’, the trial of which had been ongoing since July 29. Judge Uladzimir Areshka passed the following sentences:

Philosopher Aliaksandr Fiaduta sentenced to 10 years in jail

On September 5, 2022, the Minsk Regional Court pronounced the verdicts on the high-profile case of ‘conspiracy to seize state power’, the trial of which had been ongoing since July 29.

• Political scientist and literary critic Aliaksandr Fiaduta and leader of the BPF party Ryhor Kastusiou who were convicted of ‘conspiracy to seize power in an unconstitutional way’ under Part 1 of Article 357 of the Criminal Code received 10 years in jail.
• Activist and truck driver Dzianis Krauchuk and law firm employee Volha Halubovich who were convicted of active participation in group actions that grossly violate the public order under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code received 2.5 years in jail. 

On September 6, 2022, The Minsk Municipal Court announced the sentence in another conspicuous case that involved ten political prisoners accused under ten articles of the Criminal Code. They were given the following terms:

Viasna member Marfa Rabkova gets 15 years in jail, volunteer Andrei Chapiuk—6

The Minsk Municipal Court announced the sentence of ten political prisoners at once: coordinator of Viasna’s volunteer network Marfa Rabkova, volunteer Andrei Chapiuk, activists of the anarchist movement Akikhiro Hayeuski-Hanada, Aliaksandr Frantskevich, Aliaksei Halauko, Aliaksandr Kazlianka, Pavel Shpetny, Mikita Dranets, Andrei Marach, and Danila Chul.

• Aliaksandr Frantskevich—17 years of imprisonment
• Akikhiro Hayeuski-Hanada—16 years of imprisonment
• coordinator of Viasna’s volunteer network Marfa Rabkova—15 years of imprisonment
• Aliaksei Halauko—12 years of imprisonment
• Pavel Shpetny, Mikita Dranets, Aliaksandr Kazlianka, and Viasna volunteer Andrei Chapiuk—6 years of imprisonment each
• Andrei Marach and Danila Chul—5 years of imprisonment

The sentencing of human rights defender Marfa Rabkova, Viasna volunteer Andrei Chapiuk, and eight other political prisoners, who were sentenced to a total of 94 years in prison sparked international outrage.

Other verdicts pronounced on September 6 are as follows:

• The Lieninski District Court of Minsk convicted Ihar Lednik, a member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party. The political prisoner was found guilty of ‘slandering the President’ (Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code) in his publication “Internationally recognized neutrality of Belarus is a guarantee of security in the OSCE region”. He was sentenced to three years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony. Lednik suffers from a heart condition; he underwent gastrointestinal surgery in detention.
• Judge Vasil Biahun of the Homieĺ Regional Court sentenced Mikita Slepianok, the administrator of the culture and history Telegram channel Rezystans, to three years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony. Previously, Slepianok’s Telegram channel followed by 284 subscribers was declared by the Interior Ministry as an “extremist formation” while he himself was charged with ‘creation of an extremist formation’ under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code.
• The Baranavičy District Court passed a verdict on professional athlete Uladzimir Branavitski. The political prisoner was found guilty of ‘hooliganism’ (Article 339 of the Criminal Code) for having hung ‘protest symbols’ on power lines from January to June 2022.  He was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony.

Released

Students Illia Tananka and Safiya Malashevich ,  former police investigator Aliaksei Zikeyeu, and Siarhei Rozumhave served their full terms and were released.