What happened to political prisoners on October 10–16

There are currently 1,342 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 from the second week of October.

Political prisoner count

This week the list of political prisoners was updated with 11 new names of people who had been imprisoned for defamation offenses including insult to the president, police officers, judges, and desecration of state and state symbols for exercising their freedom of opinion.

Latest convictions

Between October 10–16, human rights defenders learned about at least 10 political prisoners who were convicted in courts:

• On October 7, 2022, the Homieĺ Regional Court considered Yauhen Halich's appeal against the verdict and upheld it. Halich was charged with ‘illegal actions with respect to information about private life and personal data’ and ‘insult to a government official’ under Articles 203-1 and 369 of the Criminal Code. On August 10, 2022, Judge Viktar Kazachak of the Centraĺny District Court of Homieĺ found the political prisoner guilty and sentenced him to 24 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony. The judge also ruled to confiscate Halich's cell phone and imposed 5,500 Belarusian rubles in damages to the victims.
• On October 12, 2022, the Mahilioŭ Regional Court passed a verdict in the criminal case of “rail guerilla” Aliaksei Shyshkavets from Asipovičy accused of ‘terrorism’ and ‘participation in hostilities on foreign soil’ under Article 289 Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code. Judge Siarhei Mazurau sentenced the political prisoner to 11 years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony. The man, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, “joined the extremist formation BYPOL, having authorized a mobilization chatbot to commit unlawful acts in Belarus”. On March 1, he allegedly received instructions to block the railroad tracks and to prepare and use "Molotov cocktails," while expressing "an active willingness to contribute to sabotaging near Asipovičy in order to prevent transporting military equipment. In September 2022, the KGB put Shyshkavets on the list of persons involved in terrorist activities.

On October 7, three defendants in the notorious Zeltser case brought after the fatal shooting between KGB officer Dzmitryi Fedasiuk and IT specialist Andrei Zeltser were convicted in different courts:

• Siarhei Dalivelia was found guilty of ‘inciting hatred’ under Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code and was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony by Judge Halina Bondal of the Viciebsk Regional Court.
• Aleh Korzun was guilty of ‘insulting a government official’ under Article 369 of the Criminal Code and was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony by Judge Andrei Bychyla of the Pinsk City and District Court. The political prisoner was also fined 3,200 Belarusian rubles ($1,250).
• Matsvei Mitsura was found guilty of ‘insulting a government official’ and ‘inciting hatred’ under Article 369 and Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to three years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony by Judge Ihar Ziamtsou of the Mahilioŭ Regional. The judge also imposed a fine of 3,200 Belarusian rubles ($1,250) and ruled to confiscate a man’s iPhone.

Four people were convicted of ‘group actions grossly violating public order’ under the “people’s article” 342 of the Criminal Code:

• On October 10, 2022, the Centraĺny District Court of Minsk heard the case of Alena Latushka. Judge Tatsiana Akavitaya sentenced her to two and a half years of freedom restriction under home confinement. Alena's husband Anatol Latushka is also a political prisoner.
• On October 13, 2022, the Partyzanski District Court of Minsk sentenced Alena Paulovich to 24 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and her husband Dzmitryi Paulovich to 18 months of imprisonment. Both were found guilty of ‘participating in group actions that grossly violated the public order’. Paulovich runs copy shop in Barysaŭ. She was detained at the end of July 2022. During the search, the police forced her to tear the white-red-white wallpaper off the wall. There are two minor kids in the family who are now under the care of their grandmother.
• On October 14, 2022, Judge Natallia Dziadkova of the Partyzanski District Court of Minsk convicted IT specialist Katsiaryna Hlinskaya and sentenced her to 24 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony for woman’s participation in 2020 protests. Hlinskaya left Belarus for Lithuania two years ago. She returned to Belarus to visit a friend and was arrested. The law enforcers published a video of her “confessing” to participating in the protests and blocking traffic.
• On October 14, 2022, Judge Siarhei Katser of the Maskoŭski District Court of Minsk convicted spouses Katsiaryna Yeudakimava and Anton Maslyka. Maslyka received 18 months in jail and Yeudakimava—three years of restricted freedom under home confinement. It is known that the family has two minors.

Released

Last week three IRDORATH band musicians, Yuliya Marchanka, Piotr Marchanka, and Anton Shnip, finished serving their terms and were released. Artsiom Shalehin, Alina Voitsekh, Uladzimir Sushko, Bahdan Shymanovich, Artsiom Kasach served their terms in full as well and are now free.

Other news

• Henadz Smirnou has recently been placed in the punishment cell in the Škloŭ colony.
• The health of Viasna human rights defender Uladzimir Labkovich continues to deteriorate behind bars.
• Coordinator of Viasna volunteer service Marfa Ryabkova filed an appeal against her sentence. Recently she has been sentenced to 14 years of jail.
• The administration of the Viciebsk colony “banned» the publication of Maksim Znak's letters.
• Aliaksandr Kazakevich sentenced to 24 months under home confinement left Belarus and is now safe.
• Aleksandr Gedzhadze was transferred from Belarus to a Russian colony. He is the first Russian citizen, recognized by Belarusian human rights activists as a political prisoner, who has been transferred to Russia.
• Dzmitry Papou had his custody level increased and was transferred from a penal colony to Zhodzina prison.