In February, 72 people criminally convicted in political cases

In February, the Viasna Human Rights Center observed a continuing trend toward criminal prosecution and convictions of citizens for political reasons. Activists have information about at least 72 citizens convicted in February, of which 12 are women and 60 are men.

One person was convicted in absentia. In February, the appeal instance increased the punishment of one previously convicted person. In relation to four convicted people, the terms of imprisonment were reduced by three months.

February sentences in numbers:

• 43 people were sentenced to a total of 295 years of imprisonment
• 2 people were sentenced to a total of 4 years of freedom restriction in open-type penal facilities
• 22 people were sentenced to a total of 54 years and 3 months under home confinement
• 3 people were sentenced to a total of 9 months of short-term imprisonment
• 2 people received a fine of 29,600 Belarusian rubles (approx. $12,000) as the main punishment
• 17 people received fines totaling 128,020 Belarusian rubles (approx. $50,700) as an additional punishment for imprisonment

2 people were stripped of the special ranks of “lieutenant colonel” and “militia warrant officer” as an additional punishment for imprisonment

In February, the courts handed down custodial sentences in 60% of all cases. Another 3% of the sentences involved restriction of freedom in open-type facilities. Home confinement was ordered in 30% of all cases. In 4% of politically motivated cases, the court ordered the arrest, a short-term form of imprisonment. Courts used a fine in 3% of cases of criminal conviction of citizens.

Thus, various types of custodial and freedom-restricting sentences were handed down in all but two or 97% of the politically motivated cases in February.