In October, 114 people criminally convicted in political cases
- Criminal proceedings in politically motivated cases usually result in custodial sentences. | Spring96.org
In October, the Human Rights Center Viasna observed a continuing trend toward criminal prosecution and conviction of citizens for political reasons. Activists have information about at least 114 citizens convicted in October, of which one-third are women and two-thirds are men (36 and 78 accordingly).
As before, judges have a strong tendency toward custodial or freedom-restricting sentences.
October sentences in numbers:
- 77 people were sentenced to a total of 425 years and 8 months of imprisonment.
- 7 people were sentenced to a total of 15 years of freedom restriction in an open-type penal facility.
- 27 people were sentenced to a total of 67 years of freedom restriction under home confinement.
- 2 people were sentenced to 4 months of arrest (short-term imprisonment).
- 1 person received a fine of 3,200 rubles ($1,280) as the main punishment.
- 27 people received fines totaling 387,840 Belarusian rubles ($154,600) as an additional punishment to imprisonment (26 convicts) or a freedom restriction in an open-type penal facility (1 convict).
- 2 people were banned from holding managerial and administrative positions for a total of 10 years in addition to imprisonment.
- 1 person was stripped of retired senior warrant officer rank in addition to imprisonment.
- 1 person was ordered coercive alcoholism treatment in addition to imprisonment.
In October, the courts handed down jail sentences in about two-thirds (67%) of all cases. 6% of all sentences involved restriction of freedom in open-type penal facilities, while home confinement was ordered in every fourth case (24%). 2% of convicted in ‘political’ cases were penalized with arrest, a short-term form of imprisonment. A fine as the main penalty was used only in 1% of all cases.
Thus, various types of custodial and freedom-restricting sentences were handed down in all but one of the politically motivated cases in October.
