June criminal trials: at least 58 people convicted on political grounds
In June, the Viasna Human Rights Center observed a continuing trend toward criminal prosecution and convictions of citizens for political reasons. According to the available data, about 202 people were repressed during the past month. Activists have information about at least 58 citizens convicted in June, of which 18 are women and 40 are men.
In the same month, a surge in prosecutions for donations towards NGOs deemed extremist formations and terrorist organizations by the authorities was registered. This trend will also determine the structure of criminal prosecution on political grounds in July. Four people were convinced in absentia last month.
Criminal prosecution for donations: five features in the lawyer's comments
June sentences in numbers
- 35 people were sentenced to a total of 255 years of imprisonment
- 5 people were sentenced to a total of 11 years and 6 months of freedom restriction in open-type penal facilities
- 18 people were sentenced to a total of 41 years under home confinement
- 4 people received fines totaling 144,300 Belarusian rubles (approx. $57,700) as an additional punishment to imprisonment
- 3 people were banned from holding managerial and administrative positions or government posts for a total of 15 years in addition to imprisonment
- 6 people were stripped of their military ranks along with deprivation of liberty.
In June, the courts handed down custodial sentences in 60% of all cases. Another 9% of the sentences involved restriction of freedom in open-type facilities, while home confinement was ordered in almost every third case (31%).
Thus, various types of custodial and freedom-restricting sentences were handed down in all of the politically motivated trials known to Viasna in June.
In May, 51 people criminally convicted in political cases
