News on the topic: criminal prosecution
08.02.2021 Convicted blogger Pavel Spiryn is political prisoner
Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights organizations
06.02.2021 Stop prosecution of human rights defenders!
Statement of the Belarusian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum on the persecution of Siarhei Drazdouski and Aleh Hrableuski
05.02.2021 Political prisoner Yauhen Kakhanouski sentenced to 3 ½ years in prison
Political prisoner Yauhen Kakhanouski has been sentenced to three and a half years in a general-security penal colony. Another defendant in the case, Dzmitry Hopta, was sentenced to two years.
05.02.2021 Political prisoner Andrei Pazniak convicted in Minsk
Judge Alena Zhyvitsa of the Kastryčnicki District Court of Minsk sentenced today political prisoner Andrei Pazniak to three years of restricted freedom in an open penitentiary (so-called “khimiya”). Pazniak was found guilty of “preparing actions that grossly violated public order” (Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code). The convict was released in the courtroom to await an appeal hearing.
05.02.2021 Freedom for Siarhei Drazdouski and Aleh Hrableuski!
Human rights defenders demand the immediate release of Siarhei Drazdouski and Aleh Hrableuski, activists of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
04.02.2021 We demand immediate release of political prisoners Stefan Lazavik and Viktar Losik
Joint statement of Belarusian human rights organizations
04.02.2021 Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities under attack
Aleh Hrableuski and Siarhei Drazdouski from the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are facing fraud charges, after they were questioned by officers of the Investigative Committee. The NGO’s company lawyer Hrableuski was detained for 72 hours to await official charges, while Drazdouski, the Office’s leader and a wheelchair user himself, was placed under house arrest.
03.02.2021 Belarus has 4 new political prisoners
Joint statement by human rights organizations of Belarus
02.02.2021 Political prisoner Dzmitry Dubkou sentenced to 7 years in prison
Judge Alena Zhukovich of the Saviecki District Court of Minsk sentenced today political prisoner Dzmitry Dubkou to seven years in a medium-security penal colony. He was found guilty under Part 3 of Art. 214 and Part 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code.
02.02.2021 First verdict in “Tsikhanouski case”: critical blogger Uladzimir Niaronski sentenced to 3 years in prison
The Lahojsk District Court has sentenced political prisoner Uladzimir Niaronski to a three-year imprisonment in a general-security penal colony, finding him guilty of calling to breach public order (Part 1 of Art 342 of the Criminal Code) and publicly insulting a government official (Art. 369).
01.02.2021 Workers sentenced to prison terms over political strike
Three employees of the government-owned BMZ steel works were found guilty of “breaching public order” (Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code) during a strike demanding political change organized at the enterprise on August 17. Ihar Povarau, who was earlier called a political prisoner, has been sentenced to three years in prison, while Aliaksandr Babrou and Yauhen Hovar – to two and half years each.
01.02.2021 Former political prisoner Aleh Mazhou sentenced to three years of restricted freedom
The Lieninski District Court of Minsk sentenced today 26-year-old athlete Aleh Mazhou to three years of restricted freedom in an open penitentiary (so-called “khimiya”), finding him guilty of “group actions gravely breaching public order” (Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code). The criminal case was condemned by Belarusian human rights defenders as politically motivated.
30.01.2021 Immediately release Viasna activist Tatsiana Lasitsa!
Joint statement of Belarusian human rights organizations
29.01.2021 Two political prisoners convicted in Minsk
Political prisoners Renata Smirnova and Artsiom Vinakurau were sentenced today to 2 and 3 years of restricted freedom. Both were released after the verdicts were pronounced.
29.01.2021 Human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka charged, remains in custody
Leanid Sudalenka, human rights activist and chairman of the Homieĺ branch of the Human Rights Center "Viasna", has been charged under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (organization and preparation of actions grossly violating public order and financing such activities). He remains in custody in pre-trial detention center No. 3 in Homieĺ.
