Key Events: Feb 15-21
BELARUS
Journalists sentenced to prison
Feb 15: Belarus targets journalists, activists in new raids.
Authorities in Belarus raided homes and offices of journalists and human rights activists Tuesday in the latest move to squelch protests against authoritarian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Police searched the offices of the Belarusian Association of Journalists and the Viasna human rights center as well as the apartments of its members, confiscating their equipment. More than 30 people were briefly detained, and at least three remained in police custody, according to the activists. Canada and the United Kingdom are calling on Belarus to end its alleged crackdown on journalists and civil rights groups, foreign ministers Marc Garneau and Dominic Raab said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
Feb 16: Tech brains flee Belarus after crackdown.
As Belarus’ authoritarian leader is facing mass protests against his 26-year rule, the pioneers that turned the former Soviet republic into an unlikely tech hub are increasingly headed for the exits. A government-backed industry park in Minsk was one of the flagship policies of Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Some of the most famous startup success stories are: phone-messaging app Viber and the online gaming service World of Tanks, which made its founder Victor Kislyi the nation’s first billionaire. Companies are shifting some employees abroad or relocating altogether, as many are freelancers.
Feb 16: Former presidential candidate goes on trial in Belarus.
A trial began Wednesday in Belarus for a bank executive who had aspired to challenge authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka in last year’s election. He was blocked from running due the criminal charges that he later rejected as political. Viktar Babarika, the former head of Russia-owned Belgazprombank, has been jailed since June on corruption and money-laundering charges. He has dismissed the accusations, saying they were intended to prevent him from challenging Lukashenao. The 57-year-old Babarika could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted at the trial in the Supreme Court of Belarus.
Feb 16: Swiss-Belarusian citizen remains sentenced despite Swiss demands.
Minsk City Court considered the appeal against the sentence of Natalia Hersche, a citizen of Belarus and Switzerland. Despite the repeated demands by the Swiss authorities of the immediate release, the Minsk City Court rejected the appeal. Earlier in December 2020, Natalia was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for pulling the facemask off the riot police officer, therefore exposing his identity.
Feb 17: Security forces break into Minsk church that condemned police violence.
Security forces made an unexpected visit to the New Life Protestant church in Minsk. As parishioners were saying prayers, security officers knocked down the door, entered and said that they were going to perform asset inventory in accordance with the court ruling. The congregation was ordered to leave the building or face administrative sanctions.
Feb 17: Two journalists sentenced to 2 years of prison over protest coverage.
The prosecutor in the trial of two journalists of Belsat, the Polish-funded satellite television station, asked the court to sentence journalists to two years in prison. The prosecutor asked the court in Minsk to find Katsyaryna Andreyeva and Darya Chultsova guilty of “organizing public events aimed at disrupting civil order.” Andreyeva and Chultsova were arrested on November 15 while covering a rally in Minsk, commemorated to the murder of Raman Bandarenka. The court ruled that by reporting on the event, they have “attracted more people to the rally, creating more work for law enforcement and obstructing public transport”. The International Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a statement condemning the politically motivated sentence.
Feb 19: Belarus reportedly looking at law to expand definition of extremism.
Belarusian lawmakers are reportedly preparing to consider legal changes that would qualify almost any criticism of the government as “extremist” behavior. The changes to the law could help to install severe punishment including the loss of livelihood and citizenship. According to the proposed changes, the KGB would maintain the list of people and organizations deemed to be “extremist”. The blacklisted violators could be prevented from working in their chosen profession, performing large financial transactions without permission, or engaging in medical, pedagogical, or publishing activities.
Feb 19: Belarusian doctor and journalist go on trial for revealing info on slain protester.
A physician and a journalist in Belarus is on trial for allegedly disclosing information about a protester killed during a crackdown on demonstrators against the authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Journalist Barysevich, and doctor Sarokin from Minsk ambulance service, were arrested on November 19 after Barysevich cited Sarokin as the source in the article she wrote about Raman Bandarenka who had died several days earlier from the injuries he sustained during the beating by the masked security forces.
Feb 19: Belarus authorities refuse to launch probe into protester killing.
Belarus’s Investigative Committee has ruled out launching a probe into the killing of 34-year-old Alyaksandr Taraykouski, who was shot by riot police in Minsk in August 2020. Alyaksandr became the first fatality in the postelection crackdown and a rallying cry for the protest movement. He was killed on August 10 during the protests against the results of the rigged presidential election. The Investigative Committee said in a statement that Taraykouski was intoxicated and “provoked” riot police to use “nonlethal weapons” against him, therefore acknowledging their fault and refusing further investigation.
Feb 22: Belarus: Cultural scene in danger as crackdown escalates.
Belarus’ vibrant cultural scene is being suffocated amid the brutal crackdown on dissent, with authorities arbitrarily detaining and harassing artists, musicians, writers and actors, and forcing others out of their jobs, Amnesty International said today. In a new briefing, part of the #StandWithBelarus campaign, the organization highlighted how the government clampdown that followed protests against Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s widely disputed re-election, is stifling Belarus’s cultural sector. A growing number of cultural figures are facing unfounded criminal proceedings, including some who are being held behind bars and face long prison sentences.
INTERNATIONAL
Feb 16: New resolution introduced to the US Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Resolution H.Res.124 named “Supporting the people of Belarus and their democratic aspirations and condemning the election rigging and subsequent violent crackdowns on peaceful protesters by the illegitimate Lukashenka regime”, sponsored by congressman Bill Keating and representatives Marcy Kaptur and Brian Fitzpatrick, has been introduced for review to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Feb 19: Belarus to start oil product exports via Russia in March.
Belarus will begin using Russian ports for exports of its oil products next month, with total volumes of 9.8 million tons through 2023, according to the intergovernmental agreement signed today. Russia and Belarus have been discussing exports via Russia since September, after Lithuania imposed sanctions on Belarus. The measures were introduced in response to the allegations that the presidential elections were not free and fair, and a subsequent crackdown on protests against the results.
Feb 19: U.S. hits dozens of Belarusians with visa restrictions amid renewed crackdown.
U.S. to impose visa ban on another 43 high-ranking Belarusian officials for their roles in abusing protesters and handing out harsh prison sentences. This brings the total count of Belarusians and Russians sanctioned by the U.S to over 100. “The United States continues to support international efforts to independently investigate electoral irregularities in Belarus, the human rights abuses surrounding the election, and the crackdown that has followed,” the State Department said. We stand with the brave people of Belarus and support their right to free and fair elections” it added.
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