What happened to political prisoners between October 10 and 18

For over three years, the security forces in Belarus have been relentlessly carrying out mass repressions. Each week, the number of political prisoners increases, and human rights defenders receive daily updates about detainees' terrible conditions, pressure from the prison administration, and the worsening health of political prisoners in custody. Viasna provides a weekly overview of the latest news on political prisoners.

Last week, 14 people were recognized as political prisoners. At the moment, there are 1,486 people on the list of political prisoners. It also became known that 12 political prisoners, including Dzmitryi Malashanka, Yauhen Turavets, Aliaksandr Siachko, Anton Yakavuk, Andrei Chudzinau, Inna Panova, Mia Mitkevich, Ryta Zotava, and Mikita Khilkevich, have served their sentences and were released.

In addition, human rights activists learned about the sentences of four political prisoners in politically motivated cases: 

• Darya Tarasevich — three years of home confinement;

• Henadz Maiseichyk — three years of home confinement;

• Yahor Mikhailau — another six months in a penal colony;

• Katsiaryna Brukhanava — two years and six months in a penal colony.

In a week, senior citizen Vasil Dzemidovich will be tried for the seventh time 

On October 19, the trial of a 71-year-old political prisoner will begin in Staryja Darohi. He is accused under Artticle 369 of the Criminal Code (Insulting a representative of the authorities) and Article 368 of the Criminal Code (insulting Lukashenka). The case will be considered by judge Natallia Zyk.

In total, he was sentenced to 7 years in prison, while the result of the last two trials is still unknown. Vasily Ivanovich has been held in custody for almost a year and four months.

Due to the fact that the political prisoner was included in the "list of terrorists", he cannot receive money transfers. In addition, Vasil has no relatives who could support him. It should be noted that over the past year, the pensioner has gone through dozens of prison transfers. The transfers of political prisoners happen in difficult conditions, so they affect Vasil's health badly.

Political prisoner Raman Marusau is going to be transferred to a prison

Raman is a contract soldier from the 103rd Vitsebsk Airborne Brigade born in Kastsiukovičy. The political prisoner was detained on March 23, 2021. He was sentenced to six years in a penal colony under Article 130 of the Criminal Code (inciting social hatred) for transferring information to BYPOL.

Human rights activists know that he was beaten during his detention.

According to human rights activists, on October 17, a trial will be held in the Vitsebsk District Court to change Roman's custodial level. According to the decision of judge Mikhail Zubenia, the political prisoner can be transferred to a prison.

Political prisoner Aleh Rubets was transferred to a medical unit after 90 days in a punitive confinement cell

In June 2022, by the decision of the Navapolatsk Court, Pinsk resident, sentenced to 5.5 years in a penal colony, was transferred for 3 years from the colony to Zhodzina prison No. 8. In total, he was held in a punishment cell for more than 200 days over the past year.

Now the relatives of the political prisoner have written on social media that Aleh was transferred to a medical unit after the punitive confinement cell.

The appeals of journalist Pavel Mazheika and lawyer Yulia Yurhilevich were dismissed

The political prisoners were charged under Part 2 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code for "other assistance to extremist activities committed repeatedly by a group of persons by prior agreement" and sentenced to 6 years in prison. The case in the Hrodna Regional Court was considered by judge Maksim Filatau.

According to the materials of the case, Yulia gave Pavel information about the decision to disbar her, as well about the consideration of a criminal case against Ales Pushkin and the imposition of punishment on him. The prosecution was sure that Mazheika had transmitted this data for publication on Belsat.

On October 17, the Supreme Court considered Pavel and Yulia's appeals behind closed doors. The judicial board, chaired by judge Pavel Karshunovich, upheld the verdict, and the appeals were dismissed, writes Telegram channel Pravo Imeyut. Political prisoners will soon be transferred to colonies.

The Supreme Court upheld the verdict of a former BSUIR teacher Mikalai Bankou

On July 28, the Minsk City Court announced the verdict of a 52-year-old political prisoner: 4 years of imprisonment in a general security penal colony. He was charged under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code (financing of extremist activities) for three donations that the man made in August 2020. The criminal case was considered by a judge Sviatlana Bandarenka.

Mikalai is a former lecturer at the Department of Communications of BSUIR. This department is designed to train career officers for the Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies and departments of the Republic of Belarus. The man was detained on January 18, 2023 in Minsk. 

Today, the judicial board of the Supreme Court, chaired by judge Aliaksei Rybakou, upheld Mikalai's sentence, and the appeal was dismissed.

Former KGB lieutenant colonel Aliaksei Khralovich is going to be transferred to prison

Aliaksei Khralovich used to be a lieutenant colonel of the KGB. In the Minsk City Court on March 30, 2022, he was sentenced to 10 years in a medium-security penal colony and a fine of 18500 roubles (approximately 5300 euros) under Part 2 of Article 356 of the Criminal Code (Treason to the state). He is also deprived of his military rank.

According to human rights activists, on October 24, a trial will be held in Navapolatsk to replace Aliaksei's custodial level with a prison one. The case will be considered by judge Tatsiana Khrypach.

Political prisoner Dzanis Khakhlou, who was deported from Russia to Belarus, will be tried for participating in protests 

Denis was born in Kruhlaje. He is the stepfather of Uladzislau Lahutsenka, convicted for participating in protests.

The man had been living in Russia since February 2023, where he fled from persecution in Belarus. He was going to leave Russia for Georgia, but on June 11 he was detained in Kabardino-Balkaria because he was on the interstate wanted list at the request of Belarus.

An administrative report was drawn up for exceeding the period of stay in Russia without registration. The court ordered his administrative expulsion to Belarus.

It became known that on October 26, Dzianis will be tried in Šklou for participating in protests (Article 342 of the Criminal Code). The case will be considered by judge Aliaksandr Tarakanau.

"Every month he is sent to a punitive confinement cell." Anarchists Ihar Alinevich and Mikita Yemialyanau face pressure

Very little data comes from Ihar Alinevich, who was sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony.

"He is not held in solitary confinement, but it's still hard to communicate. Every month he is sent to a punitive confinement cell. He can't get calls and care packages, including medical ones. Letters reach him, but only from relatives. However, not all the time," the source told Svaboda.

Yemialyanau, who has been in prison for almost 4 years, is denied a visit from a priest of the Catholic denomination.

"He is alone in the cell. He doesn't complain about his health. Correspondence only with the family. His mood is okay. He's been to a punitive confinement cell. He uses the prison library, but he has not yet been given the books that he ordered through the Belkniga," the relatives of the political prisoner said.

In August, the care package for political prisoner Alena Lazarchyk was not accepted 

This, most likely, indicates that she is not allowed to receive them now. Since the transfer of Lazarchyk to the colony, the administration has never permitted her to meet with a lawyer. What is happening to Alena now, what state she is in, is unknown.

Recall that the activist of the European Belarus was sentenced to 8 years in a penal colony under four articles of the Criminal Code. It is known that Alena is experiencing problems with her teeth in the colony and that she has lost weight. Earlier it was reported that the woman was placed in a punitive confinement cell.

What happened to political prisoners between September 26 and October 10

Viasna provides a weekly overview of the latest news on political prisoners.