What happened to political prisoners between October 18 and 25

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.

At the moment, there are 1,479 people on the list of political prisoners. Last week, human rights activists learned that seven political prisoners, including Vadzim Kalinin, Anton Maslyka, Uladzimir Hanusevich, Aliaksandr Hulida, Aksana Aliakseyeva had served their sentences and were released.

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

• Yulia Kolas — two years of home confinement;

• Zmitser Dashkevich — another year of penal colony;

• Dzmitryi Semak — three months of arrest.

Political prisoner Pavel Rezanovich is going to be transferred to a prison 

Pavel stated at the trial that physical and psychological torture was used against him so that he would sign pre-prepared testimony. A former prisoner of the Brest pre-trial detention center №7 confirmed to human rights activists that when Pavel's mother Liubou was being led down the corridor, her screaming could be heard throughout the detention center. Pavel reacted very emotionally to this every time, for which he was thrown into a punitive confinement cell several times.

It became known that on October 30, a trial will be held in Šklou to replace Pavel's security level with a prison one. The decision will be made by judge Aliaksandr Tarakanau.

Since May 10, political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich faced penalties nine times

 This was reported by his wife Maryna Adamovich:

• in the form of a reprimand — 1 time (06/29/2023);

• in the form of deprivation of the right to receive a parcel or care package — 1 time (08.08.2023);

• in the form of deprivation of a short meeting — 1 time (07.08.2023);

• in the form of deprivation of a long meeting — 1 time (09/28/2023);

• in the form of confinement in a punishment cell — 5 times (01.06.2023, 20.07.2023, 14.08.2023, 05.09.2023, 06.10.2023).

Statkevich has been behind bars for more than 3 years and 4 months. He was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment in a special security penal colony.

"Two months in a punitive confinement cell." A letter to freedom came from political prisoner Uladzimir Hundar 

According to the Brest Viasna, the first letter in 2.5 months came from the political prisoner. In it, Uladzimir said that he was transferred to a prison for 3 years. In addition, he wrote that during three months in the Babrujsk colony, he spent two of them in the punitive confinement cell. Hundar is now restricted in goods he can buy: he is limited to spending only 37 rubles a month. Also, he is allowed only 1 long meeting per year.

Recall that the Hrodna Regional Court on June 6 upheld the verdict of the political prisoner unchanged: 20 years in prison. The very next day, he was immediately transferred from a punishment cell to a penal colony.

Political prisoner Nasta Loika was transferred to the Homel women's colony

On June 20, a political prisoner was sentenced to 7 years in prison in Minsk City Court for preparing a report Persecution of Anarchists, Anti-fascists, Leftists, and Social Activists in Belarus" (2017–August 2018). It allegedly criticises the activities of police officers.

The trial was held behind closed doors, so the details and the position of Nasta herself are unknown.

On October 3, the Supreme Court considered the appeal of the human rights defender. Judicial board chaired by a judge Piotr Listratsenka left the verdict unchanged, and the complaint without satisfaction.

The appeal of political prisoner Artsiom Liabedzka will be considered on October 31  

In the Minsk City Court on August 24, Anatol Liabedzka was sentenced to 3.5 years in a medium-security penal colony. He was accused of "financing the activities of an extremist formation" under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to three solidarity funds in 2020.

Artsiom has been held behind bars since March 28 of this year.

The Supreme Court will consider Artsiom's appeal on October 31. The decision will be made by a judicial panel chaired by judge Pavel Karshunovich.

"He lost weight, but he feels fine." News from politician Andrei Dzmitryieu 

Dzmitryieu, co-founder and co-chairman of the Tell the Truth association, was sentenced to 2 years in a penal colony.

A former colleague of the politician told Svaboda about a political prisoner:

"He has lost weight, but he feels fine. He does not complain about his health. He pulls himself up on a horizontal bar, does push-ups, gymnastics. In his free time, he reads a lot and studies. He also studies chess and learns Spanish using self-study books."

Political prisoner Mikhail Lapunou was arrested for the sixth time in a row

Mikhail was convicted in the Court of the Central District of Homel on October 23. He was convicted under Article 19.11 of the Administrative Code for dissemination of extremist materials. This time his case was considered by judge Volkava Tatsiana. The result of the trial is still unknown, writes @ViasnaHomel. But he was not released.

Recall that Mikhail was detained on August 8 and has been continuously behind bars since then.

Lapunov's son, Mikita Zalatarou, is one of the youngest detainees as a result of the 2020 protests.

Another trial of senior citizen Vasil Dzemidovich has begun 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 is being considered by judge Natalia Zyk.

This is the seventh trial of the senior citizen. In total, he was sentenced to 7 years in prison, while the result of the last two trials is still unknown.

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.