The monitoring of repressions against journalists, activists, human rights defenders, bloggers, independent media, presidential candidates, and their headquarters during the 2020 presidential elections

Until June 16, 2020

INTRODUCTION

We would like to present to you an overview of the monitoring of repressions against journalists, activists, human rights defenders, bloggers, independent media, presidential candidates, and their headquarters during the 2020 presidential elections.

The situation began to look very much like the collapse and defeat of the opposition after the presidential elections on December 19, 2010, but one thing is different – there are almost two more months until the presidential elections in 2020.

Until June 16, 2020, 15:00 the human rights activists of “Our House” are aware of 317 cases of reprisals against civilians in Belarus, including physical violence, kidnapping, and threats of the removal of children. A total sum of fines in the amount of EUR 33,087 was collected.

The number of days of arrest received by activists, bloggers, and journalists amounted to 1,190 days. Police attempted to hack phones of five activists. Of these, police officers broke a finger of the mother of the detained Vengura Tamara, two young women were kidnapped, the whereabouts of one of them is still unknown to human rights activists of “Our House”. But the young woman managed to inform human rights activists of “Our House” before the kidnapping, that unfamiliar men were chasing her around the house. The second kidnapped young woman was kept in the police department without explanation for more than 8 hours. The third woman, Veronika Mishchenko, who was trying to become a presidential candidate, was very badly beaten by police at the police department, the court refused a forensic examination to hide the beatings. Veronika Mishchenko received 15 days of arrest, and in 15 days all hematomas and traces of violence will disappear. Sofia Tikhanovskaya, the mother-in-law of protest candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, was hammered to a hypertensive crisis and the hospital. After three searches at home that took place at night. An elderly woman was not allowed to sleep, eat, drink water. As a result, after interrogation by the Investigative Committee, she was taken by an ambulance to a hospital with a hypertensive crisis. Svetlana is threatened with the removal of her children if she continues the election campaign.

11 women were arrested for 79 days, 29 women were penalized with large fines that amounted to a total of 7,560 euros. In all, 42 women were subjected to repression.

13 bloggers were subjected to a total of 190 days of administrative arrest and 800 euro fines. Two bloggers were infected with COVID-19 during the detention and arrest.

It is known that criminal proceedings were initiated against 19 people. Of these, criminal proceedings were initiated against three women (a member of the headquarters of an alternative candidate, a journalist and a blogger), and three journalists (one female and two males). It is expected that criminal proceedings will be initiated against one more presidential candidate the other day. About 15 people only know that criminal proceedings have been instituted against them, but their data is not known.

8 media resources received warnings from the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus, mainly for violating the Media Legislation (“disseminating information that could harm the national interests of Belarus”).

16 journalists were repressed, four of them are females. 6 journalists received administrative arrests of 77 days. The total amount of fines that journalists were subjected to is 2,270 euros.

One journalist went on a hunger strike in protest. The second journalist ended up in intensive care with a heart attack after the trial.

THE CONTENT:

Chapter 1. Abductions, fractures, and physical abuse of activists

Chapter 2. Threats of taking away children from mothers/parents actively participating in the 2020 presidential election

Chapter 3. The administrative arrests of peaceful people.

3.1. The administrative arrests of women.

3.2. The administrative arrests of bloggers.

3.3. The administrative arrests of journalists.

Chapter 4. Fines for peaceful citizens.

4.1. Administrative fines for women.

4.2. Administrative fines for journalists.

Chapter 5. Hacker attacks and unauthorized phone hacking.

Chapter 6. Criminal Proceedings against Participants of the Presidential Elections

Chapter 7. Violations against independent media.

7.1. Violations against independent journalists.

7.2. Violations against independent media.

 

Some abbreviations in the text:

* CFL  – Country For Life

* IG   – Initiative group of a presidential candidate 

* CAO or CAO RB  – Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus

* CC or CC RB  – Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus

* b.v. – The base value is 27 rubles or 10  euros.

 

Chapter 1. Abductions, Fractures, and Physical Abuse of Activists

	Name	City	Occupation	Repressions	Note
1	Vengura Тамара	v. Prudok	Mother of arrested candidate	Physical abuse	Fractured finger of her arm by policeman
2	Tsyp Irina	Minsk	The daughter of a candidate for presidency	abduction	Abduction on street / arrested more than 8 hours
3	Mischenko Veronika	Minsk	A candidate for presidency Collected signatures for the alternative candidates	Physical abuse The trial rejected any expertise for the physical abuse by police 15 days of detention	18.06.2020 = p. 3 art. 23.34 CAO Hematomas after detention, severely beaten by police
4	Sophia Tikhanovskaja	Gomel	Mother of bloggerа Sergei Tikhanovskij A mother-in-law of the candidate for presidency Svetlana Tikhanovskaja	Three searches of the Investigative Committee without a break for rest, sleep and food, including the whole night	03.06.2020 = search by Investigative Committee She was in a hospital with a hypertensive crisis after the interrogation by the Investigative Committee

 

1. The rule of law has been violated– Article 149 of the CC (intentional infliction of less serious bodily harm).

Intentional infliction of less serious bodily harm, that is, the damage that is not life-threatening and does not entail the consequences provided for in Article 147 of CC, but which caused a long-term health disorder for up to four months or significant permanent disability by less than one third, – shall be punished with fine or correctional labor for up to two years, or arrest with a fine or without a fine, or restriction of liberty for up to three years with a fine or without a fine, or imprisonment for the same period with a fine or without a fine.

 

Chapter 2. Threats of taking children away from mothers/parents actively participating in the 2020 presidential election

 

№	NAME	City	Occupation	Repressions	Note
1	Tikhanovskaja Svetlana	Gomel	a candidate for presidency	Threats to take children away Threats for life of children	Call from an unknown phone number / the pressure to withdraw from the election
2	Riabcev Valeri	Minsk	activist	p.2 art. 6.7 CAO	Detained before trial/ he has a child with disabilities
3	Emeljanova Anastasia	Minsk	Mother of anarchist	Intimidation Threats	Threats of causing harm to her / son’s health
4	Lazarchik Elena	Minsk	activist	p.2 art.6.7 CAO	Detained before trial/ she has a child/ both parents were detained / 2 days of detention for her / child (6 years) was alone without parents two days
5	Nikolaenko Egor	Gomel	child	p.1 art. 10.11 CAO	Attempt to interview without legal representative
6	Nikolaenko Egor	Gomel	child	art.434 CPC	Interrogation for more than 5 hours Fingerprints without legal representative
7	Maslov Sergei	Chechersk	Father with many children volunteer	Threats to take children away	After detention for 10 days / new arrest more than 7 hours
8	Vengura Ekaterina	v. Prudok	A child (10 years) niece of the arrested candidate	The threat to life and intimidation	Night search by police / the policeman pointed a gun / took away the phone

 

Besides,

Ekaterina Talankova / Mogilev / member of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya’s initiative group / mother of minor children and is on parental leave / administrative case of 23.34 of CAO for taking part in the campaign of Tikhanovsky has been discontinued / police officers are now prosecuting her (are stationed under her house, walking in the neighborhood, interrogating the neighbors);

Olga Loban / Mogilev / participant of the campaign/mother of two minor children / has visual impairment / administrative fine in the amount of 20 basic units;

Elena Lazarchik / Minsk / activist of European Belarus – detained on 05/06/2020, received administrative arrest for 12 days. A minor child (6 years old) was left at home without parental care. Father of the child – Sergei Matskoyts was detained on 04/05/2020, during pre-trial is kept in the temporary detention facilities.

The following rules of law have been violated in the prosecution of women and children:

 

1. The rule of law has been violated– Part 26.7 of the CAO (Administrative arrest cannot be applied to pregnant women, disabled persons of groups I and II, women and single men with dependent minors);

 

2. The rule of law has been violated– Article 10.11 of the CAO (the presence of a teacher is mandatory when interviewing a minor under the age of fourteen, and when interviewing a minor between the age of fourteen to sixteen at the discretion of an official of the body conducting the administrative process. In case of need, maybe the presence of a psychologist, as well as the parent, or other legal representatives of the minor);

 

– Part 2 of Article 10.9 of the CAO (persons under the age of 16 are called through their parents or other legal representatives. The call can be made by summons sent by mail, telephone message or using other means of communication);

 

– Part 3 of Art. 8.2 of the CAO of the Republic of Belarus (mandatory notification of parents or persons acting in loco parentis about the detention of a minor);

 

3. The rule of law has been violated – Art. 434 of the CAO  (interrogation of a teenager should not last more than 2 hours in a row, after which a one hours break should be made for eating. The duration of the interrogation should not exceed 4 hours throughout the day).

 

Chapter 3. The administrative arrests of peaceful people.

3.1. The administrative arrests of women.

 

№	NAME	City	Occupation	Repressions	Note (the date of the trial  = the article)
1	Mischenko Veronika	Minsk	A candidate for presidency	15 days of detention	18.06.2020 = p. 3 art.23.34 CAO Hematomas after detention She was bitten by police
2	Olga Nikolaichyk	Minsk	Documentary film maker activist	28 days of detention	26.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO–13 days of detention 8.06.2020 = p. 3 art. 23.34 CAO–15 days of detention
3	Prokopchik Liza	Minsk	Youth activist	5 days of detention	08.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
4	Lazarchik Elena	Minsk	activist	12 days of detention	05.06.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO–detained 3 days  / changed for the fine
5	Kravchenko Olga	Minsk	activist	1 day of detention before the trial And fine	19.05.2020 detained 20.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
6	Lemehova Julia	Minsk	activist	1 day of detention before the trial fine	19.05.2020 detained 20.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
7	Zhelezniakova Angelika	Minsk	A candidate for presidency	1 day of detention before the trial fine	19.05.2020 detained 20.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
8	Potockaja Tamara	Baranovichy	activist	1 day of detention before the trial fine	19.05.2020 detained 20.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
9	Janushkovskaja Elena	Vitebsk	blogger	3 days of detention before the trial	05.06.2020 detained 08.06.2020 = p.3 art. 23.34 CAO
10	Miroshnichenko Elena	Orsha	Zoo WHRD	10 days of detention	12.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
11	Dzhumova Inna	Mogilev	Mother-328	3 days of detention	11.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO

 

Article 23.34 of the CAO – Violation of the procedures for organizing or conducting public events /actions;

 

Part 3 of Article 23.34 of the CAO   – Acts provided for in paragraph 1 of this article, that are committed repeatedly within one year after imposing an administrative penalty for the same violations – entail a fine in the amount of from twenty to fifty basic units or administrative arrest.

 

Article 23.4 of the CAO   – Disobedience to a lawful order or requirement of an official in connection with the performance of his/her official duties;

 

 

3.2. The administrative arrests of bloggers.

 

№	NAME	City	Occupation	Repressions	Note (the date of the trial = the article)
1	Palchys Eduard	Minsk	blogger	15 days of detention	15.06.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
2	Kozlov Dmitrij	Minsk	blogger	510 euro fine 15 days of detention	03.06.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO = arrest 11.06=23.34 CAO = detention
3	Maslovskij Nikolaj	Minsk	blogger	15 days of detention арест	15.06.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
4	Tsyganovich Vladimir	Minsk	blogger	30 days of detention	3 months ago = art. 23.34 CAO 15 days of detention 15.06/2020 =23.34 CAO 15 days of detention
5	Pashkevich Vseslav	Minsk	blogger	Fine 310 euro	08.06.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
6	Lukomskij Dmitrij	Gomel	blogger	15 days of detention	21.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO after the detention lost his job
7	Remezovskij Ivan	Gomel	blogger	15 days of detention	08.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO Arrested more than 8 hours without any protocol
8	Tsukanov Aleksandr	Mozyr	blogger	40 days of detention	11.05.2020 = art 23.34 CAO  and 23.4 CAO = 25 days of detention 06.06.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO = 15 days of detention
9	Krutkin Ales	Polock	blogger	15 days of detention	04.06.2020 =art. 23.34 CAO
10	Kabanov Aleksandr	Brest	Blogger	15 days of detention, was infected with COVID-19 during the detention	20.04.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
11	Petruhin Sergei	Brest	blogger	15 days of detention, was infected with COVID-19 during the detention	11.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
12	Seregin Konstantin	Minsk	blogger	3 days of detention	From a hospital delivered to court 13.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
13	Timofeev Dmitrij	Baranovichy	blogger	12 days of detention	In Bobrujsk 09.05.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO /delivered to Mogilev
	TOTAL			205 days of detention, 800 euro fines

 

3.3. The administrative arrests of journalists.

 

	Name	City	Occupation	Repressions	Note
1	Osipcov Ales	Mogilev	journalist of BelaPan	10 days of detention Hungry strike	09.05.2020 detained before the trial 11.06.2020 = p.1 23.34 CAO
2	Popov Dmitrij	Russia	Video operator / journalist	15 days of detention	05.06.2020 = 23.34 CAO
3	Arshynskij Mihail	Mogilev	Journalist of Belsat	Fine21 days of detention	07.05.2020 = p.2 art. 22.9 CAO 07.05.2020 = p.2 art. 22.9 CAO 08.05.2020 = p.1 23.34CAO 11.05.2020 = p.1 23.34CAO 12.05.2020 = 23.34 CAO
4	Burakov Aleksandr/ young	Mogilev	journalist / HRD	10 days of detention	15.05.2020 = Art. 23.34 CAO
5	Burakov Aleksandr	Mogilev	journalist  / HRD	Detained before trial 11 days of detention	08.05.2020 = p.1 art. 23.34 CAO 12.06.2020 = p.1 art. 23.34 CAO
6	Lupach Dmitrij	Glubokoe	journalist Белсат	10 days of detention Fine Hospital / intensive care	30.04.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO 08.05.2020 = detention before the trial 11.05.2020 = 10 days of detention and fine / heart attack, hospital, resuscitation / refusal to postpone the arrest / 15.05.2020 was discharged from the hospital to prison 26.05.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO = fine Common fine 2298,00 руб or 967$

 

Chapter 4. Fines for peaceful citizens.

4.1. Fines for women.

№	NAME	City	Occupation	Date	Fine BYN	Fine Euro
1	Antonina Konovalova	Marjina Gorka	Admin of chat Anti-Parade	09.05.2020	540,00	200
2	Liana Shuba	Zhlobin	Mother 328	27.05.2020	270,00	100
3	Ludmila Borejko	Glubokoe	Re-tied	11.05.2020	270,00	100
4	Tatiana Sivachenko	Mogilev	activist	11.05.2020	675,00	250
5	Daria Chulcova	Mogilev	journalist	07.05.2020	810,00	300
6	Olga Loban	Mogilev	activist	05.06.2020	540,00	200
7	Ludmila Karchinskaja	Brest	Eco WHRD / activist	18.05.2020	1350,00	500
8	Polina Sharendo	Brest	Activist	09.01.2020	1350,00	500
9	Elena Miroshnichenko	Orsha	Zoo WHRD	12.05.2020	675,00	250
10	Yulia Barsukova	Vitebsk	Admin / blogger	14.05.2020	810,00	300
11	Daria Yuschenko	Vitebsk	activist	18.05.2020 25.05.2020	1215,00	450
12	Oksana Mihasenok	Vitebsk	activist	18.05.2020	540,00	200
13	Natalia Karelina	Polock	activist	01.06.2020	270,00	100
14	Elena Gurchenok	Novopolock	activist	01.06.2020	270,00	100
15	Elena Redkova	Novopolock	activist	23.05.2020 15.06.2020	216,00 810,00	80 300
16	Julia Shelepen	Novopolock	activist	01.06.2020	216,00	80
17	Elena Ustinovich	Vilejka	activist	14.05.2020	540,00	200
18	Larisa Shchiriakova	Gomel	journalist	19.05.2020	945,00	350
19	Olga Plotnikova	Gomel	activist	29.05.2020	270,00	100
20	Svetlana Narskina	Gomel	activist	04.06.2020	270,00	100
21	Tatiana Kanevskaja	Gomel	Mother 328	05.06.2020	324,00	120
22	Tamara Potockaja	Baranovichy	activist	20.05.2020	1080,00	400
23	Angelica Zhelezniakova	Minsk	activist	20.05.2020	1215,00	450
24	Julia Lemehova	Minsk	activist	20.05.2020	675,00	250
25	Olga Kravchenko	Minsk	activist	20.05.2020	135,00	50
26	Olga Zhuravskaja	Vitebsk	blogger	30.03.2020	1620,00	600
27	Elena Yanushkovskaja	Vitebsk	activist	08.06.2020	1080,00	400
28	Elena Lazarchik	Minsk	activist	08.06.2020	1290,00	480
29	Regina Berkus	Lida	a candidate for presidency	09.06.2020	135,00	50
	ИТОГО					7 560 euro

 

All fines in the administrative case under Article 23.34 of CAO are a violation of the procedures for organizing or conducting public events / actions

 

Apart from Larisa Shchiriakova, who was fined under Article 22.9 of the CAO which is about Violation of Media legislation

 

Elena Maslyukova / Svetlogorsk / eco-activist – the equipment (smartphone and laptop) was seized as part of the verification under Article 189 of the CC (public humiliation of honor and dignity);

 

Olga Zhuravskaya / Vitebsk / blogger / mother of two children / in addition to the administrative fine, a criminal proceeding was initiated (03.03.2020) under Art. 369 of the CC (public insult of a representative of the authorities in connection with the performance of official duties) for the plot, in which she gives a negative assessment to the senior inspector of the law enforcement department, major of the police – Andrei Shcheglov / in 2019 a search was conducted as part of a check on criminal proceedings (Article 189 of the CC / public insult) / equipment was seized (cameras, computers), which have not yet been returned.

 

4.2. Fines for journalists.

	Name		City			Occupation	Repressions		Note
1	Tolchin Andrei		Gomel			journalist	350 euro fine		19.05.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO
2	Larisa Shchiriakova		Gomel			journalist	350 euro fine		19.05.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO
3	Chulcova Daria		Mogilev			journalist	300 euro		07.05.2020 = p.2 art. 22.9 CAO
4	Arshynskij Mihail		Mogilev			journalist	p.2 22.9 CAO p.2 22.9 CAO p.1 23.34CAO23.34 CAO21 days of detention420 euro fine		07.05.2020 = p.2 art. 22.9 CAO 07.05.2020 = p.2 art. 22.9 CAO 08.05.2020 = p.1 23.34CAO 11.05.2020 = p.1 23.34CAO 12.05.2020 = 23.34 CAO
5		Lupach Dmitrij		Glubokoe	journalist			10 days of detention Fine Hospital / intensive care	30.04.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO 08.05.2020 = detention before the trial 11.05.2020 = 10 days of detention and fine / heart attack, hospital, resuscitation / refusal to postpone the arrest / 15.05.2020 was discharged from the hospital to prison 26.05.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO = fine Common fine 2298,00 руб or 967$

 

 

Chapter 5. Hacker attacks and unauthorized phone hacking.

 

It should be noted, that something new appeared in these presidential elections, namely: massive hacker attacks and attempts to hack phones and attempts to gain access to accounts on social networks while the activists are detained and are in prison.

 

№	NAME	Occupation	The date	Note
1	Dzhyga Sergei	activist	09.05.2020	During the detention, the phone was removed by police, after the return a number of photos were deleted
2	Lupach Dmitrij	journalist	08.05.2020	with the sanction of the prosecutor telephone conversations were printed
3	Burakov Aleksandr	journalist / HRD	19.05.2020	After 11 days of detention checked that the phone was under the hacker attacks in prison. The phone was removed by police during the detention
4	Bodilev Andrei	activist	16.05.2020	During detention the hacker attacks for the personal accounts in FB, VK via phone which was removed by police
5	Kisliak Roman	HRD		After 4 days of detention checked that the phone was under the hacker attacks in prison. The phone was removed by police during the detention

 

 

Chapter 6. Criminal Proceedings against Participants of the Presidential Elections

 

We want to note that all these criminal proceedings are clearly ordered and political in nature and aim to exclude the most popular candidates from among the rivals of Alexander Lukashenko.

 

№	NAME	City	Occupation	Repressions	Note
1	Tikhanovskij Sergei	Gomel	blogger and the husband of the candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaja	p.1 art.342  CC art. 191 CC	29.05.2020 detained 16.06.2020 the new criminal article
2	Novikov Andrei	Поставы	activist	p.1 art.342  CC	06.06.2020 detained
3	Aronovich Aleksandr	Mogilev	Blogger	p.1 art. 342 CC	29.05.2020 detained
4	Artem Sakov	Mogilev	Blogger	p.1 art.342 CC	31.05.2020 detained
5	Bobrovskij Vasilij	Mogilev	Blogger	p.1 art.342 CC	29.05.2020 detained
6	Vergilij Ushak	Mogilev	Blogger	p.1 art.342 CC	29.05.2020 detained
7	Dmitrij Furmanov	Mogilev	Blogger	p.1 art.342 CC	29.05.2020 detained
8	Kniga Vladimir	Grodno	Blogger	Art. 364 CC	04.06.2020 detained
9	Reznichenko Evgenij	Grodno	Blogger	Art. 364 CC	29.05.2020 detained
10	Neronskij Vladimir	Slutsk	Blogger	Art. 364 CC	06.05.2020 detained
11	Zhuravskaja Olga	Vitebsk	blogger	Art. 369 CC	The video equipment confiscated
12	Korolenko Vlad	Gomel	blogger	Art. 343 CC	13.06.2020 detained
13	Romanov Sergei	Minsk	anarchist	Art. 421 CC	01.06.2020 detained
14	Sacuk Sergei	Minsk	Journalist	p.2 art. 430 CC Art. 209 CC	The pressure for his supporters
15	Маслюкова Elena	Svetlogorsk	journalist	Art. 189 CC
16	Medvedev Andrei	Rechica	journalist	p.2 art. 189 CC
17	Dudarev Vladimir	Mogilev	Initiative group of Viktor Babariko	Art. 235 CC and art. 243 CC	12.06.2020 detained
18	Kormyzov Sergei	Mogilev	Initiative group of Viktor Babariko	Art. 235 CC Art. 243 CC	12.06.2020 detained
19	Kupreeva Svetlana	Minsk	Initiative group of Viktor Babariko	Art. 235 CC Art. 243 CC	12.06.2020 detained

 

Article 191. Obstruction of the exercise of electoral rights, the right to participate in a referendum, or the performance of the right of legislative initiative of citizens, or the work of the Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus on the election and conduct of Republican Referendums, election commissions, referendum commissions, election commissions on the recall of a deputy – ( Part 1) shall be punished with community service, or a fine, or correctional labor for a term of up to two years, or restriction of liberty for a term of up to three years, or imprisonment for the same term;

 

Part 1, article 342. Organization of group actions that grossly violate public order and involve obvious disobedience to the legitimate requirements of representatives of the authority or entail disruption of the work of transport, enterprises, institutions or organizations, or active participation in such actions in the absence of characteristics of a more serious crime –– shall be punished with a fine, or arrest, or restriction of liberty for a term of up to three years, or imprisonment for the same term;

Article 364. Violence or the threat of violence against a member of the internal affairs bodies or his relatives in order to obstruct his legitimate activities; or to force him to change the nature of this activity; or out of revenge for the performance of official activities — shall be punished with arrest or restriction of liberty for a term of up to five years or imprisonment for up to six years;

 

Article 369. Public insult of a representative of the authorities in connection with the performance of his/her official duties – shall be punished with community service, or a fine, or correctional labor for a term of up to two years, or arrest, or restriction of liberty for a term of up to three years;

 

Article 343. Production and distribution of pornographic materials or objects of a pornographic nature – (Part 1) shall be punished with community service, or a fine, or correctional labor for a term of up to two years, or arrest;

 

Article 421. Non-compliance with the requirements of preventive supervision without good reason, committed by a person who is under preventive supervision, who was subjected to administrative punishment for the same violations twice a year – is punishable by arrest or imprisonment for a term of up to one year;

 

Part 2, article 430. Receiving a bribe repeatedly, through extortion, or through a group of persons with prior conspiracy, or in large amounts – shall be punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of three to ten years with a fine and deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities;

 

Article 209. Fraud –– shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to ten years with a fine;

 

Article 189. Intentional humiliation of the honor and dignity of a person expressed in the indecent form (insult), in a public speech, or in a printed or publicly displayed work, either in the media or in the information disseminated on the World Wide Web – Internet; another public telecommunication networks or a dedicated telecommunication network, – shall be punished with a fine, or correctional labor for a term of up to two years, or arrest, or restriction of liberty for a term of up to three years;

 

Article 235. Legalization (“laundering”) of funds obtained by criminal means – shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for a term of five to ten years with a fine and with deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities;

 

Article 243. Evasion of the payment of taxes and fees – shall be punished by restraint of liberty for a term of up to five years with a fine and with deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities; or without deprivation of liberty or deprivation of liberty for a term of three to seven years with a fine and with deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities or without deprivation.

 

In the framework of the criminal proceedings against Belgazprom, more than 15 people were detained.

 

Chapter 7. Violations against independent media.

7.1. Violations against independent journalists.

№	NAME	City	Occupation	Repressions	Note
1	Kovalev Sergei	Minsk	journalist	Fines	05.06.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO 10.06.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO 18.06.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO
2	Mickevich Dmitrij	Minsk	journalist	Fine	10.06.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO 18.06.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO
3	Abakunchik Galina	Minsk	journalist	Fine	05.06.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO
4	Dubovik Elena	Minsk	journalist	Fine	04.06.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO
5	Osipcov Ales	Mogilev	journalist	10 days of detention Hungry strike	09.05.2020 detained before the trial 11.06.2020 =  p.1 art. 23.34 CAO
6	Masliukova Elena	Svetlogorsk	journalist	fine	17.06.2020 = p.1 23.34 CAO
7	Kruchinin Aleksej	Russia	journalist	deportation
8	Tolchin Andrei	Gomel	journalist Белсат	Fine	19.05.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO
9	Larisa Schirakova	Gomel	journalist	fine	19.05.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO
10	Popov Dmitrij	Russia	Video operator	15 days of detention	05.06.2020 = art. 23.34 CAO
11	Chulcova Daria	Mogilev	journalist	Fine	07.05.2020 = p.2 22.9 CAO
12	Arshynskij Mihail	Mogilev	journalist	Fine 21 days of detention	07.05.2020 = p.2 art. 22.9 CAO 07.05.2020 = p.2 art. 22.9 CAO 08.05.2020 = p.1 23.34CAO 11.05.2020 = p.1 23.34CAO 12.05.2020 = 23.34 CAO
13	Burakov Aleksandr/ young	Mogilev	journalist / HRD	10 days of detention	15.05.2020 = Art. 23.34 CAO
14	Burakov Aleksandr	Mogilev	journalist  / HRD	Detained before trial 11 days of detention	08.05.2020 = p.1 art. 23.34 CAO 12.06.2020 = p.1 art. 23.34 CAO
15	Lupach Dmitrij	Glubokoe	journalist	10 days of detention Fines Hospital / intensive care	30.04.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO 08.05.2020 = detention before the trial 11.05.2020 = 10 days of detention and fine / heart attack, hospital, resuscitation / refusal to postpone the arrest / 15.05.2020 was discharged from the hospital to prison 26.05.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO = fine Common fine 2298,00 руб or 967$
16	Borozenko Aleksandr	Marjina Gorka	journalist	Art. 23.34 CAO art. 22.9 CAO	09.05.2020 = Art. 23.34 CAO 04.06.2020 = art. 22.9 CAO

 

 

Article 22.9. Violation of Media legislation;

 

Part 2, Art. 22.9. Violation of the established procedure for sending mandatory free copies of periodical publications, distribution of erotic publications, publication of a refutation by the media as well as illegal production, and (or) distribution of media products – shall incur a fine in the amount of from  twenty to fifty basic units.

 

7.2. Violations against independent media.

 

№	The name of media	Date	Repressions
1	«Media-Polessie»	06.04.2020	Ministry of information warming
2	«Media-Polessie»	13.05.2020	Fine 1200 евро For disseminating information that allegedly prejudiced the national interests of the Republic of Belarus, contributed to the spread of panic / the first case of the application of the “new” part 3-1 of Article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offense.
3	«Наша Нива»/nn.by	14/03/2020	Ministry of information warming For disseminating information that allegedly prejudiced the national interests of the Republic of Belarus, contributed to the spread of panic / the first case of the application of the “new” part 3-1 of Article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offense.
4	«Наша Нива»/nn.by	20/04/2020	Ministry of Information Requirement The Ministry of Information imposed a requirement to the owner of the Internet resource, for the dissemination of false information in accordance with subparagraph 1.3 of paragraph 1 of Article 38 of the Media Legislation.
5	TUT.BY	14/03/2020	Ministry of information warming For disseminating information that allegedly prejudiced the national interests of the Republic of Belarus, contributed to the spread of panic / the first case of the application of the “new” part 3-1 of Article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offense.
6	ООО «МЕДИАТЕК»/ онлайн-телевидение tvbox.by	04/01/2020	Ministry of information warming A warning was issued in connection with the distribution of foreign television programs via the website tvbox.by, these TV programs do not have permission from the Ministry of Information for Broadcasting in Belarus. We want to remind that this is prohibited in accordance with the current media legislation.
7	vitebsk.biz	20/03/2020	Ministry of Information Requirement   On March 13, the publication with headline “Nikolay Vasilyevich Martynov, General Director of SOOO “Marko” died in Minsk”, containing inaccurate information about the death of the head of the organization was posted. According to the official information of the Ministry of Health, at present in Belarus, there have been no deaths from diseases caused by COVID-19
8	Independent media	30.05.2020	Ban to publish any polls for elections in media
9	Belsat	16.06.2020	Withdrawal of accreditation of Belarusian Football Federation   Association of Belarusian Football Federation decided to suspend ABFF TV-accreditation and not to extend cooperation with reporters of “Belsat” television channel regarding coverage of “Belarusbank – Major League” season 2020, “Maxline – First League” season 2020, “Paris – Match – Belarus Cup” season 2020/2021, and other tournaments under the aegis of ABFF.

 

Part 3-1 of Art. 22.9 of CAO. Violation of media legislation by the media repeatedly within one year after a written warning is issued in respect of it – shall incur a fine on an individual entrepreneur in the amount of from twenty to one hundred basic units, and on a legal entity in the amount of from one hundred to five hundred basic units.