We would like to present you stories of 89 Belarusian women – political prisoners, that according to us receive too little international attention. 45 women from this list have already been convicted to imprisonment, 44 women-political prisoners are still in a pre-trial detention center waiting for the sentence.
In total, 45 women-political prisoners were sentenced to 116.7 years of imprisonment. Besides that, one of them was sentenced to a fine in the amount of 40 base units, equivalent to about 400 Euro.
57 female political prisoners are from Minsk, and 30 are from other regions.
Also, 2 women who are citizens of Russian Federation and 1 citizen of Switzerland (at the same time she is Belarussian citizen too) are in Belarusian prison for political reasons and participation in protest actions.
It should be noted, that Belarusian female political prisoners are of various ages and of a high social status and level of education.
Among these 89 female political prisoners there are 6 journalists, 2 editors, 1 medical doctor, 2 pedagogues, 1 political analyst, 1 writer, 1 engineer, 2 accountants, 6 students, 3 directors and 1 YouTube blogger.
ANNA ABLAB (Minsk), an employee of the Belarusian Railway
Anna was detained on September 22, 2021. The woman is being prosecuted under the article on treason to the state (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) against employees of Belarusian enterprises who supported the strike and were part of the Rabochy Rukh (Workers Movement). This initiative was declared extremist on September 21, 2021, and at the same time, workers were detained throughout the country.
Anna is under a criminal investigation
Katsiaryna Bakhvalova (Andreyeva), a journalist of the Belsat TV channel.
Together with journalist Daria Chultsova, she was launched a criminal case against on “organizing actions that grossly violate public order” (Article 342 of the Criminal Code) after a live broadcast from the scene of the brutal dispersal of demonstrators by security forces on the “Square of Changes” in Minsk on November 15, 2020.
On February 18, she was sentenced to two years in prison and sent to a general regime correctional colony.
YANA ARABEIKA (Minsk), an activist
Yana Ivanauna Arabeika is an activist, participant of the Belarusian Students’ Association (Student Union) and a student of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University.
Yana was detained right at her dormitory on November 12, 2020 as a part of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (Organization or participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). Court sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months in prison
KATSIARYNA ARYKO (Minsk)
Katsiaryna Aryko appears in a criminal case on painted bales of haylage.
On September 2, 2021, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that at night four men and three women from Minsk aged from 27 to 51 were detained near the M1 highway. One of them was Katsiaryna Aryko. The reason for the detention was the painting of more than 80 bales of hay in the field. A criminal case was initiated under Part 2 of Art. 339 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (malicious hooliganism).
After the arrest, they were taken to the Dzerzhinsky ROVD (Pre-Detention Centre), and their houses were searched. Before the court, they were all taken into custody and placed in the town Zhodino colony.
At the moment Katsiaryna is under criminal investigation.
PALINA AREKHAVA (Minsk)
Palina Viktarauna Arekhava was detained on September 30, 2021 in Minsk in connection with a criminal case initiated for comments on the Internet. She was taken into custody after the deaths of KGB officer Dzmitry Fedasyuk and IT specialist Andrei Zeltser in the Minsk apartment.
It is known that Palina is prosecuted under Articles 369 of the Criminal Code (insulting a representative of the authorities) and 130 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (incitement of social enmity).
Palina is under the criminal investigation.
ANZHELA ASAD (Minsk), Chief Accountant of TUT.BY
She was detained on May 18, 2021 within a matter of a criminal case against TUT.BY on charges of tax evasion (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
TATSIANA ASTROUSKAYA (Minsk), an activist
Tatsiana Astrouskaya is a volunteer of the Country for Life Foundation.
She was detained on July 9, 2021, during a “large-scale KGB operation of purge from radically-minded people.” Tatsiana was charged under Art. 361-2 of the Criminal Code (financing the activities of an extremist group). Tatsiana was transferred to a pre-trial detention centre.
Tatsiana is under criminal investigation
VITALIYA BANDARENKA (Brest), an activist
Vitaliya Bandarenka is a participant in the case of participation in mass riots (part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus), initiated on the basis of the events in Brest on August 10, 2020.
She was supposed to be tried in mid-February along with nine other defendants in the case, but before the trial, the girl went abroad. However, before the verdict on February 27, she returned, and on March 1, 2021, she was detained. She was taken to remand prison and then transferred to remand prison no. 7 for trial.
Vitaliya Bandarenka was sentenced to 4 years in a strict regime colony.
NATALLIA BELABEKHAVA (Gomel)
Natallia Belabekhava is a teacher from Gomel. Detained on September 23, 2021.
It is known that Natallia is under investigation under the article on treason (Art. 356 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus) against workers of Belarusian factories who supported the strike and were part of the “Workers’ Movement”. On September 21, the initiative was declared extremist, and workers were detained throughout the country.
LARYSA BERAZHNOVA (Minsk)
Larysa Uladzimirauna Berazhnova was detained in Minsk on September 29, 2021 in connection with a criminal case initiated for comments on the Internet after the deaths of KGB officer Dzmitry Fedasyuk and IT specialist Andrei Zeltser in the Minsk apartment.
Larysa is under the criminal investigation.
ANZHELIKA BORYS (Grodno)
Anzhelika Borys is the chairman of the Union of Poles in Belarus.
On March 23, 2021, the chairman of the Union of Poles, Anzhelika Borys, was detained in Grodno. She was charged with organizing an unauthorized mass event – an unofficial holiday “Kazyuki”, after which she was arrested for 15 days.
Later it became known that she became a defendant in the case under Part 3 of Art. 130 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus on actions aimed at inciting hatred, rehabilitation of Nazism.
Anzhelika is under criminal investigation.
SVIATLANA BRATSIANKOVA (Minsk)
Sviatlana Bratsiankova, a resident of Minsk, was detained on June 25, 2021, sentenced to two years of restriction of liberty and sent to an open-type correctional institution on a criminal case on participation in group actions that grossly violate public order (Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus).
According to the indictment, Sviatlana Bratsiankova took an active part in several unauthorized mass events – on August 16, August 23 and September 6, where she clapped loudly, went out onto the roadway and blocked public transport on Nemiga, Volodarsky, Lenin, Independence Avenue… public order and peace of mind of citizens are grossly violated. Her actions are qualified under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.
She was sentences to 2 years.
KASIA BUDZKO (Grodno)
Kasia Budzko is an activist, a participant of the Belarusian Students’ Association, a student of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University.
Kasia was detained on November 12, 2020 in the framework of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (Organization or participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). A search was carried out in the house where Kasya lives.
The girl was first taken into custody to the KGB pre-trial detention centre, then transferred to pre-trial detention center-1.
Court sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months in prison.
ANASTASIYA BULYBENKA (Minsk)
Anastasiya Bulybenka is a former student of the Belarusian National Technical University who was expelled during the autumn protests in Belarus.
The girl was detained on November 12, 2020 within the framework of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (Organization or participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). She was searched at home, after which she was taken for interrogation by the KGB.
Anastasiya was charged. First, she was placed in custody to the KGB pre-trial detention centre, then transferred to pre-trial detention center-1.
Court sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months in prison
ALINA VOITSEKH (Minsk district, Machulishchi)
Alina Voitsekh is a resident of Machulishchey (Minsk region), accused of violence against a policeman under Art. 364 of the Criminal Code.
Alina was detained on November 29, 2020 and taken to the police department of the Tsentralny district of Minsk, where they drew up an administrative offence report (participation in an unauthorized mass event). According to the charges, in the police department, Voitsekh threatened one of the policemen, tore his mask off, pulled out, pushed and bit him on the thigh, thereby causing physical pain.
The girl was then sentenced to 13 days, and on December 12, she was placed in custody and charged.
On January 26, the Tsentralny District Court found Alina Voitsekh guilty and sentenced her to 2 years of imprisonment in a general regime colony.
IRYNA VIKKHOLM (Russian Federation)
Iryna Vikkholm is a citizen of Russia.
She was detained on May 28, 2021 for a tweet written on May 23. The tweet led to publication in LiveJournal with a reprint of the BBC Russian Service material about the incident with the Ryanair plane (on which Roman Protasevich was flying).
Vikkholm added her headline to the reprint: “Another Crime of Lukashenka: An Act of State Aviation Piracy,” and the phrase “Act of State Aviation Piracy” was quoted in the BBC text as a reaction from the Greek Foreign Ministry.
The woman was charged under Art. 367 of the Criminal Code (Slander against the President). Court sentenced her to 1 year and 6 months in prison.
HANNA VISHNIAK (Minsk)
Hanna Viktarauna Vishniak is a volunteer of the Telegram channel “Drivers-97”. During and after the protests of 2020, the girl helped deliver water around the city.
She was arrested on October 28, 2020. She was detained and charged under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
Court sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months in prison
YULIYA HARACHKA (Minsk), human right defender
Yuliya Harachka is a volunteer and an activist of the public organization “Our House” from Minsk. She was detained on July 14, 2021 in a criminal case on group actions that grossly violate public order (part 1 of article 342 of the Criminal Code).
ALANA GEBREMARIAM (Minsk)
Alana Tadege Gebremariam is a member of the main staff of the Coordination Council, the Belarusian Students Association (Student Union), an activist of the “Youth Bloc”. Alana is also Svetlana Tikhanovskaya’s youth representative.
She was graduated from the Belarusian State Medical University. In the fall of 2019, in the parliamentary elections, she was a candidate for the House of Representatives in the Hrushevsky constituency No. 98.
Alana was detained on November 12, 2020 in the framework of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (Organization or participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). The apartment where the activist lives was searched.
Court sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months in prison
VIKTORYIA HRANKOUSKAYA (Minsk)
Viktoryia Hrankouskaya is a former student of the Belarusian National Technical University who was expelled during the autumn, 2020 protests in Belarus.
The girl was detained on November 12, 2020 within the framework of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (Organization or participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
Court sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months in prison
DARYA DANILAVA (Minsk)
Darya Aliaksandrauna Danilava is manager of TAM.BY, director of RocketData.
She was detained on May 18 within the framework of a criminal case opened against the news portal TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code).
At the moment Darya is under criminal investigation.
ALENA DZIADZIULIUA (Minsk)
Alena Ryhorauna Dziadziulia is a defendant in the criminal case of painted bales of haylage, detained on September 2, 2021.
On September 2, 2021, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that four men and three women from Minsk, aged from 27 to 51, were detained near the M1 highway at night. One of them is Elena Dedyulya. The reason for the detention was the painting of more than 80 bales of hay in the field. A criminal case was opened against the detainees under Part 2 of Art. 339 of the Criminal Code (malicious hooliganism).
After the arrest, they were taken to the Dzerzhinsky District Department of Internal Affairs, and their homes were searched. Before the trial, they were all taken into custody and placed to Zhodino prison.
At the moment Alena is under criminal investigation.
VOLHA DUBOVIK (Minsk)
Volha Dubovik is a defendant in the criminal case of painted bales of haylage, detained on September 2, 2021.
On September 2, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that four men and three women from Minsk, aged from 27 to 51, were detained near the M1 highway at night. One of them was Volha Dubovik. The reason for the detention was the painting of more than 80 bales of hay in the field. A criminal case was opened against the detainees under Part 2 of Art. 339 of the Criminal Code (malicious hooliganism).
After the arrest, they were taken to the Dzerzhinsky District Department of Internal Affairs, and their homes were searched. Before the trial, they were all taken into custody and placed to Zhodino prison.
At the moment Volha is under criminal investigation.
MARYNA DUBROUSKAYA (Minsk)
Maryna Dubrouskaya is an authorised delegate of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
She was detained on July 9, 2021, during a “large-scale KGB operation of purge from radically-minded people.” Maryna was charged under Art. 361-2 of the Criminal Code (financing the activities of an extremist group). She was transferred to a pre-trial detention centre. At the moment Maryna is under criminal investigation.
TATSIANA YAKELCHYK (Minsk)
Tatsiana Andreieuna Yakelchyk is a student of the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of the Belarusian State University.
She was detained by KGB officers on November 26, 2020. Before that, her house was searched, during which her phone and laptop were seized.
From the KGB pre-trial detention centre, where Tatsiana was held for the first few days after her arrest, she was transferred to the pre-trial detention centre in Volodarsky street. She is being held in the case of group actions that grossly violate public order (Article 342 of the Criminal Code).
Court sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months in prison.
VOLHA ZALATAR (Zhdanovichi village)
Volha Zalatar is an activist and a volunteer from Zhdanovichi. She was an election observer in 2020. Graduated from the BSU Lyceum and the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the BSU. Has five under-age children.
The press service of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee reported that the woman was detained “for active protest activities”, she was the administrator of the local courtyard chat and organized unauthorized mass events: tea drinking, walks, concerts.
On March 9, Volha was charged with “creating an extremist formation or leading such a formation or a structural subdivision included in it” (Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code).
At the moment Volha is under criminal investigation.
TATSIANA ZVIARKO (Lida)
Tatsiana Zviarko is a resident of Lida, mother on maternity leave, detained on August 6, 2021, sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in a colony under two articles of the Criminal Code: Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (Insulting a representative of the authorities) and Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (Insult to the President).
Previously, Tatsiana worked in the Lida regional executive committee as a senior inspector in the department of documentation support. It is known that the representative of the authorities who was insulted by Tatsiana in connection with the events of August 2020 is the deputy head of the Lida ROVD (Pre-Detention Centre) Dzianis Zhynko, with whom she was personally acquainted.
IRYNA ZLOBINA (Minsk)
Iryna Zlobina was detained on January 12, 2021 by officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
On January 15, in an official statement, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Gennady Kazakevich said that Zlobina had been detained “on suspicion of financing protest activities.” According to him, since August 2020, Zlobina has been financing people who took part in the protests in Minsk, including by paying fines and reimbursing funds for maintenance in the Central Inspectorate and the Temporary Detention Centre. ”
At the moment Iryna is under criminal investigation.
MARYNA ZOLATAVA (Minsk)
Maryna Zolatava is the editor-in-chief of TUT.BY.
In 2019, Maryna Zolatava was sentenced to a large fine in a criminal case under Art. 425 of the Criminal Code (Inaction of an official) – the case of unauthorized access to information from BelTA. Human rights activists believe that the criminal case is politically motivated.
Maryna was detained on May 18, 2021 in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code).
At the moment Maryna is under criminal investigation.
SVIATLANA ZYL (Zhlobin)
Sviatlana Zyl is a former employee of the Belarusian Metallurgical Plant in Zhlobin.
Sviatlana was detained on September 22, 2021 after another interrogation. The woman is being prosecuted under the article on treason to the state (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) against employees of Belarusian factories who supported the strike and participated in Rabochy Rukh (Workers Movement). This initiative was declared extremist on September 21, and at the same time, workers were detained throughout the country.
Svetlana was placed in a pre-trial detention centre.
At the moment Svetlana is under a criminal investigation.
NADZEYA KALACH (Minsk)
Nadzeya Kalach is the vocalist of the IRDORATH band.
Nadzeya was detained on the evening of August 2, 2021 at a dacha near Minsk during her birthday celebrations together with other musicians and guests of the holiday. Over the next two days, some of the people were convicted on administrative charges of disobeying the police; while against Nadzeya, as well as against Uladzimir Kalach, Piotr and Yuliya Marchanka, Anton Shnip, a criminal case was initiated under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
Nadzeya Kalach is in a temporary detention centre in the status of the suspected offender
MARIA KALENIK (Minsk)
Maria Kalenik is a student of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts.
She was detained on November 12, 2020 in the framework of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (Organization or participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
Court sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months in prison
MARIA KALESNIKAVA (Minsk)
Member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council, head of the election headquarters of Viktar Babaryka.
On September 7, it became known that the woman was detained and suspected of a criminal offense under Part 3 of Art. 361 of the Criminal Code (calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus).
On February 11, it became known that Maria Kalesnikava was charged with a conspiracy to seize state power by unconstitutional means (part 1 of article 357 of the Criminal Code), the creation of an extremist group and its leadership (part 1 of article 361-1 of the Criminal Code).
Court sentenced her to 11 years in prison.
ANTANINA KANAVALAVA (Minsk)
Antanina Kanavalava is an authorised delegate of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
She was arrested on September 6, 2020 and sentenced to an administrative penalty of 40 base units for participating in an unauthorized event. However, after the trial, the woman was not released, but re-detained in the framework of a criminal case.
On May 7, the Minsk Regional Court passed sentences to the defendants in the case via the Army with the People telegram channel. Antanina Kanavalava was sentenced to five and a half years in prison in a general regime colony.
TATSIANA KANEUSKAYA (Gomel), a mother-328
Tatsiana Kaneuskaya is an authorised delegate of presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in Gomel and a well-known activist in Gomel region.
She herself came to activism because of the struggle for freedom of her son, who was convicted under a drug article.
For several years she fought for changes in the anti-drug legislation as a representative of the initiative “Movement of Mothers 328”. Tatsiana was the initiator of the hunger strike of mothers of children convicted for drugs.
During the 2019 parliamentary elections, she was a candidate for deputy. She was detained on August 6, 2020 and convicted under Part 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code – Participation in riots
Court sentences her to 6 years in prison
VALERYIA KASTSIUHOVA (Minsk)
Valeryia Barysauna kastsiuhova is a political scientist, analyst, founder and editor of the site of the expert community “Our Opinion”, editor and author of the “Belarusian Yearbook” and head of the group of monitoring experts “Belarus in Focus”.
Valeryia was detained on June 30, 2021 after a search in her house. The search was carried out by KGB officers. She was taken out to a temporary detention center, from there she was transferred to pre-trial detention center No. 1 in Volodarsky street.
The criminal investigation is going on.
IRYNA KASTSIUCHENKA (Minsk)
Iryna Kastsiuchenka (a former lawyer of TUT.BY) was detained in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code). She was detained on May 18, 2021.
She is under the house arrest.
VOLHA KLASKOUSKAYA (Minsk), a journalist
Volha Klaskouskaya is a former journalist with Narodnaya Volya. She was detained on October 14, 2020 in Minsk.
She is accused of blocking traffic at the intersection of Rokossovsky Avenue and Plekhanov Street on the evening of October 13, 2020. The rally was carried out by about 7 people, among whom was allegedly Volha Klaskouskaya. They had a confrontation with one of the drivers.
She is charged with committing a crime under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization of group actions that grossly violate public order and entail disruption of transport).
Court sentenced her to 2 years in prison.
VOLHA KLIMKOVA (Mogilev)
Volha Klimkova was stopped by traffic police officers in Mogilev on November 24, 2020. More than 800 copies of the unregistered newspaper “Mogilevskie Vesti” (News from Mogilev) were found in her car. The next day she was detained, her house was searched.
Later it became known that Volha was charged under Part 2 of Art. 339 of the Criminal Code (Hooliganism committed by a group of persons) and art. 368 of the Criminal Code (Insult to the President).
Court sentenced her to 3 years and 6 months in prison
LIUDMILA KUZNIATSOVA (Pruzhany)
Liudmila Kuzniatsova is a 53-year-old resident of Pruzhany, sentenced to 1 year in prison in a general regime colony under the article on insulting the president (Article 368 of the Criminal Code). The woman was arrested in the courtroom on May 21, 2021, and about 80 animals remained at her home.
According to the prosecution, on August 12, 2020, the woman posted a long message from her husband’s Vkontakte account with expressions addressed to Lukashenka. At the trial, Liudmila repeated that she “posted information for herself” and that she didn’t realize that her message was visible to everyone who visited her husband’s page. She noted that she used the page to published photos of animals that she saved, and the message was posted publicly “by mistake”.
MARYNA KIRYLCHYK (Minsk)
Maryna Yakauleuna Kirylchyk was detained on September 29, 2021 in a framework of the criminal case initiated for comments on the Internet after the deaths of a KGB officer Dzmitry Fedasyuk and an IT specialist Andrei Zeltser in a Minsk apartment.
The charges were brought under:
Art. 369 of the Criminal Code – Insulting a representative of the authorities art. 130 of the Penal Code – Incitement to hatred.
TATSIANA KUZINA (Minsk)
Tatsiana Kuzina is a member of the Council and co-founder of the school of young managers of public administration Sympa, an expert of the bipart research project, a master of political science.
She was detained in Minsk on the night of June 28 to 29, 2021 at the airport while going through a passport check-point to leave the country. It is known that Tatsiana was going to take a night flight to Tbilisi. Later it became known that Kuzina was detained in connection with the initiated criminal case. She was taken to the IVS in Akrestsin Street, and a few days later she was transferred to the SIZO (Pre-Trial Detention Centre) in Volodarsky Street.
Tatsiana Kuzina was charged under Part 1 of Art. 357 of the Criminal Code (complicity in actions committed with the aim of seizing power) and under Part 3 of Art. 361 (calls for action to harm national security).
The criminal investigation is underway.
VIKTORYIA KULSHA (Minsk)
Viktoryia Kulsha was the administrator of the telegram channel and chat “Drivers 97%”, for which she was detained on November 4, 2020 by employees of the GUBOPiK. The woman was placed in jail-1 in Minsk.
She was initially charged under Art. 361 of the Criminal Code (Calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus). In February 2021, it became known that the charge had been re-qualified to Part 1 and Part 2 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order).
Court sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months in prison.
ALA LAPATKA (Minsk)
Ala Lapatka – Chief Engineer of TUT.BY.
Ala was detained on May 18, 2021 in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code).
A criminal investigation is underway.
TATSIANA LASITSA (Rechitsa)
Tatsiana Lasitsa is an activist and human rights defender from Rechitsa, a volunteer of the Gomel branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center. Detained on January 21, 2021.
She is charged in a criminal case under Part 1 and Part 2 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). A preventive measure in the form of detention was chosen in relation to her.
On September 3, a trial began in the Tsentralny District Court of Gomel.
IRYNA LEUSHYNA (Minsk)
Iryna Leushyna is the director of the news agency BelaPAN.
On the morning of August 18, 2021, a search was conducted at her house. Then she was taken for a search to the agency’s editorial office, and then for interrogation. Also, searches were carried out at other BelaPAN journalists’ homes.
Iryna was detained for 72 hours under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Organization or preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or participation in them).
10 days after her arrest, she was transferred to SIZO-1. Investigation is underway.
VOLHA LOIKA (Minsk)
Volha Loika is the editor-in-chief of the political and economic block at TUT.BY.
Volha was arrested on May 18, 2021 in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code).
Investigation is underway
KSENIYA LUTSKINA (Minsk), journalist
Kseniya Lutskina is a journalist. Kseniya was detained on December 22 on Mulyavina Boulevard – not far from the Central Department Store, where she went shopping. For four hours – until about 20:30 – Kseniya’s house was searched (or examined). They seized her computer, phone, flash drives and documents.
On December 31, 2020, it became known that Kseniya Lutskina was charged under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code for evasion of taxes and fees on an especially large scale.
Criminal investigation is underway.
ALENA LYSKOVICH (Brest)
Alena Lyskovich is a figurant of the Brest “round dance case”, initiated by the events of September 13, 2020 in the city (when the protesters came out onto the roadway for a protest round dance, and they were dispersed by a water cannon). Alena was detained on July 26, 2021.
In the court of the Moskovsky district of Brest, on May 7, 14 more defendants were convicted in the “round dances case”. Judge Inna Klyshpach found everyone guilty and passed sentences from 1.5 years of “home chemistry” (probation) to 1 year in prison.
Alena Lyskovich received a year and six months of restricted freedom with a referral to an open institution (“chemistry”).
VICTORYIA LYSKOVICH (Brest)
Viktoryia Lyskovich is a figurant of the Brest “round dance case”, initiated by the events of September 13, 2020 in the city (when the protesters came out onto the road for a protest round dance, and they were dispersed by a water cannon). Detained on July 26, 2021.
In the court of the Moskovsky district of Brest, on May 7, 14 more defendants were convicted in the “round dances case”. Judge Inna Klyshpach found everyone guilty and sentenced from 1.5 years of “home chemistry” (probation) to 1 year in prison. Viktoryia Lyskovich received a year and six months of restriction of freedom and was sent to an open institution (“chemistry”).
SAFIYA MALASHEVICH (Minsk)
Safiya Malashevich was detained for the first time on September 6 at a protest rally “March of Unity”, during which she sprayed paint on the surface of the shields of special barriers. She became a suspect in a criminal case under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Participation in group actions that grossly violate public order) and Part 2 of Art. 339 of the Criminal Code (Hooliganism committed by a group of persons).
Then she was released on recognizance not to leave, but was detained again on November 30, 2020 and placed in custody.
During the trial, the prosecution reclassified Part 2 of Art. 339, according to which Safiya Malashevich was accused, to Part 1 of Art. 339 and by drawing up punishments under three articles (part 1 of article 368, part 1 of article 342, part 1 of article 339) sentenced her: two years of imprisonment in a general regime colony.
YULIYA MARCHANKA (YUNITSKAYA) (Minsk)
Yuliya Marchanka (Yunitskaya) was detained on the evening of August 2, 2021 at a dacha near Minsk during the celebration of the birthday of the vocalist of the IRDORATH group Nadzeya Kalach, together with musicians and other participants of the holiday.
Over the next two days, some of the people were convicted under administrative cases for disobeying the police, against Yuliya, a criminal case was initiated under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
Yuliya Marchanka is in a temporary detention centre in the status of a suspect.
VOLHA MAYORAVA (Minsk region, Krupsky district)
Volha Mayorava is a public activist, previously an active member of the United Civil Party.
She was detained on the evening of January 4, 2021 at her house in the village of Nacha, Krupskiy district, in the so-called “case of Mikalai Autukhovich”. A search was carried out in her house, in the result of which the KGB officers seized equipment from the house.
What kind of charge was brought against Volha Mayorava is still unknown.
ALENA MAUSHUK (Pinsk)
She was detained in the framework of a criminal case on mass riots. According to the police, the woman allegedly brandished a stick at the police officers (OMON).
The 44-year-old Alena Maushuk was detained on the night of August 10, 2020 in Pinsk. She is accused of participating in riots under Part 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code.
Court sentenced Elena to 6 years in prison.
ALINA MURATAVA (Brest)
Alina Muratava from Brest is a defendant in the case of blocking railway tracks and hanging stuffed animals in Brest. She was charged under Part 2 of Art. 339 of the Criminal Code (Malicious hooliganism). Detained on January 26, 2021. Muratava was accused of hanging a mannequin (stuffed doll) with the words “OMON”.
On May 18, Alina was sentenced by the Leninsky District Court of Brest to 1 year in prison in a general regime colony.
YANA MILEUSKAYA (Gomel)
Yana Mileuskaya was detained on September 7, 2021 in a criminal case for insulting the regime’s flag (Article 370 of the Criminal Code). She and two other men were accused of having torn down the national flag on one of the streets of Gomel.
A criminal investigation is underway.
ANASTASIYA MIRONTSAVA (Minsk)
Anastasiya Mirontsava was detained on October 16, 2020 within the framework of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
The case is connected with the events of August 10: she and her sister got on the video from the protests, which became the reason for the detention.
Convicted under Art. 364 of the Criminal Code (Violence against a police officer). Anastasiya Mirontsava received 2 years in prison, Victoryia – 2.5 years in prison.
VICTORIA MIRONTSEVA (Minsk)
Victoryia Mirontsava was detained on October 15, 2020 in the framework of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order), art. 363 of the Criminal Code (Resistance to a police officer or other person protecting public order). The reason for her arrest was a video from the protests on August 10, 2020.
Court decision: 2 years and 6 months in prison.
MIA MITKEVICH (Minsk)
Mia Mitkevich was detained on January 19, 2021. She was accused of inciting social discord on the basis of belonging to a particular social group under Part 1 of Art. 130 of the Criminal Code. According to the materials of the case, Mitkevich “in order to incite hostility and undermine the credibility of the police, on her page on VKontakte, on September 26, October 3 and 10, 2020, posted messages, discovered in an indecent form.” In them, she called for violent actions against the police officers. This information was available to an unlimited circle of Internet users. Mia was charged with the motive of “political and ideological enmity related to the electoral campaign of Belarus and various political views.” Mia admitted her guilt only in terms of writing posts.
On May 20, 2021, the Minsk City Court sentenced her to three years in a general regime colony.
MARYIA NESTSERAVA (Minsk)
Maryia Nestserava was detained on October 23, 2020 in the stairwell near her apartment. The officers of the GUBOPiK came to her with a search, after which Maryia was taken away for interrogation. She was beaten during the arrest.
First, the woman was charged under Part 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (Participation in riots in Minsk). However, in the end, she was convicted under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, found guilty “of active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order.” All that for the telegram channels and chats in which she participated. The correspondence from those chats and channels formed the basis of the 47-page indictment. A verdict of three years in prison in a general regime colony was passed.
ALENA NESTSIAROVICH (Minsk)
Alena Anatolieuna Nestsiarovich was detained on September 29, 2021 in a criminal case initiated for comments on the Internet after the deaths of a KGB officer Dzmitry Fedasyuk and an IT specialist Andrei Zeltser in a Minsk apartment.
It is known that Alena is being held in a criminal case against under articles 369 of the Criminal Code (Insulting a representative of the authorities) and 130 of the Criminal Code (Inciting social discord).
An investigation is underway.
NATALLIA NIKITSINA (Minsk)
Natallia Nikitsina was detained in Minsk on September 29, 2021 in a criminal case opened for comments on the Internet after the deaths of KGB officer Dmitry Fedosyuk and IT specialist Andrei Zeltse Dzmitry Fedasyuk and an IT specialist Andrei Zeltser in the Minsk apartment.
It is known that Natallia is being prosecuted under Articles 369 of the Criminal Code (Insulting a representative of the authorities) and 130 of the Criminal Code (Inciting social discord).
An investigation is underway.
MARYIA NOVIK (Minsk)
Maria was detained on May 18, 2021 in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code).
ANASTASIYA NIKITSINA (Minsk)
Anastasiya Nikitsina was detained on December 27, 2020 for self-tapping screws scattered near the prosecutor’s office of Minsk. A car ran into these screws, two wheels were punctured. Material damage amounted to 36 rubles 18 kopecks.
Anastasiya was charged under Part 2 of Article 339 of the Criminal Code (malicious hooliganism), as well as Part 1 of Art. 14 of the Criminal Code (Attempted crime).
On March 3, in the court of the Frunzensky district of Minsk, the verdict was passed: Anastasiya Nikitsina – 1 year and 1 month in prison in a general regime correctional colony.
IRYNA PALIANINA (Postavy)
Iryna Yuliyanauna Palianina is a resident of Postavy, sentenced to two years in prison in a general regime colony. The term was set by partial addition of punishments: according to Art. 369 of the Criminal Code (insulting a representative of the authorities), the woman was sentenced to a restraint of liberty for a period of two years and sent to an open-type correctional institution – “chemistry”, under Art. 295 of the Criminal Code – for a year and a half in prison in a colony.
She was arrested on April 26, 2021, and was found guilty of posting an offensive comment on a social network in December last year under a photograph of Alexander Rybakov, the head of the Postavy District Department of Internal Affairs, in connection with his official duties. Also, according to the investigation, Iryna found cartridges from a small-bore rifle in her mother’s house and brought them home: there they were found in a sewing machine during examination.
EMA STSEPULIONAK (Miory)
Ema Stsepulionak was detained on September 29, 2021 in Miory under a criminal case initiated for comments on the Internet after the deaths of KGB officer Dzmitry Fedasyuk and an IT specialist Andrei Zeltser in the Minsk apartment.
It is known that Emma is being held under a criminal case under articles 369 of the Criminal Code (Insulting a representative of the authorities) and 130 of the Criminal Code (Inciting social discord).
MARFA RABKOVA (Minsk)
Marfa Rabkova, a coordinator of the “Viasna” volunteer service, a human rights activist.
Marfa Rabkova was detained on September 17, 2020 in the framework of a criminal case under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (Education or other training of persons to participate in mass disorders, or financing such activities).
On February 11, Marfa was presented with new charges under Part 3 of Art. 130 (incitement of social enmity towards the authorities by a group of unidentified persons) and Part 2 of Art. 285 of the Criminal Code (participation in a criminal organization). Also, the coordinator of the Viasna Volunteer Service is still accused of funding and training for participation in mass riots (part 3, art. 293 of the Criminal Code).
Now Marfa faces up to 12 years in prison.
IRYNA RYBALKA (Minsk)
Iryna Rybalka – Deputy Director of TUT.BY.
Iryna was detained on May 18 in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code).
An investigation is underway.
SOFIA SAPEGA (citizen of the Russian Federation)
Sofia Sapega is a student of the European Humanities University, a citizen of the Russian Federation.
Detained on May 23, 2021 Sophia is suspected in criminal cases under Part 1 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (Organization of Mass Riots) and Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order) and under Article 130 of the Criminal Code (Incitement to hostility).
Sofia Sapega was kept in the KGB pre-trial detention centre, and on June 24 was transferred under house arrest.
VOLHA SYRAVATKA (Brest)
Volha Syravatka was detained on November 23, 2020 in the case of blocking railway tracks and hanging stuffed animals in Brest. She was charged under Part 2 of Art. 339 of the Criminal Code (Malicious hooliganism).
Episodes imputed to Syravatka:
- hanging a mannequin (stuffed doll) with the words “OMON”;
- damage to glass in the premises of the police station in the amount of 160 rubles;
On May 18, 2021, Olga was sentenced by the Leninsky District Court of Brest to two years in prison in a general regime colony.
KSENIYA SYRAMOLAT (Minsk)
Kseniya Syramolat is a press secretary of the Belarusian Students Association, a volunteer of the Viasna Human Rights Centre.
Kseniya was detained on November 12, 2020 in the framework of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (Organization or participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
Court sentenced Kseniya to 2 years and 6 months in prison.
YULIYA SYRYKH (Minsk)
Yuliya Syrykh is a volunteer of the Country for Life Foundation.
She was detained on July 9, 2021, during a “large-scale KGB operation of purge of radically-minded people.” Julia was charged under Art. 361-2 of the Criminal Code (financing the activities of an extremist formation).
An investigation is underway.
MARYNA SILIONAK (Brest)
Maryna Silionak, a defendant in the case of blocking railway tracks and hanging stuffed animals in Brest, was detained on August 8, 2021. She was charged under Part 2 of Art. 339 of the Criminal Code (Malicious hooliganism).
On May 18, Marina was sentenced by the Leninsky District Court of Brest to 1 year and 6 months of restriction of freedom and sent to an open-type institution (“chemistry”).
VOLHA TAKARCHUK (Мinsk), blogger
Volha Takarchuk is a blogger.
She was detained on May 19, 2021. At that time, she was already in the status of a suspect under two articles of the Criminal Code (insulting a judge and defamation against an employee of the election commission – 391 and 188 articles of the Criminal Code). After a new charge was added: the organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them (Article 342 of the Criminal Code).
At the moment Volha is under criminal investigation.
ALENA TALKACHOVA (Minsk)
Alena Talkachova, a TUT.BY journalist.
Alena was detained on May 18 in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code).
An investigation is underway.
KATSIARYNA TKACHENKA (Minsk)
Katsiaryna Tkachenka, a Legal Advisor of TUT.BY.
She was detained on May 18, 2021 in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code). A few days later she was placed under house arrest.
An investigation is underway.
NATALLIA TURAVA (Brest)
Natallia Turava was arrested on August 18, 2021 and sentenced to 1 year and 1 month in a colony on a criminal case of insulting the president (Article 368 of the Criminal Code) and destruction of documents (Article 377 of the Criminal Code).
VOLHA FILATCHANKOVA (Minsk)
Volha Filatchankova is a lecturer at the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, an assistant at the POIT department. A participant in the video message of BSUIR teachers against violence, took part in the strike.
Was detained on November 12, 2020.
Volha was charged under Art. 342 part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (Organization or participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
Court sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months in prison.
NATALLIA HERSCHE (citizen of Belarus and Switzerland)
Natallia Hersche was detained on September 19, 2020.
She arrived in Minsk on September 11 and on September 19 she joined the “women’s march” near the Komarovsky market. This is the only time Natalia took part in the march (on September 21, she bought a return ticket to Switzerland).
The charges were brought against her under:
Art. 363 of the Criminal Code – Resistance to a police officer or other person protecting public order.
Court sentenced her to 2 years and 6 months in prison.
DARYA CHAIKO (MINSK)
Darya Chaiko is a former student of the Faculty of Geography of the Belarusian State University. She was detained on September 1, 2021.
Daria was sentenced to 2.5 years of restriction of freedom and sent to an open-type correctional institution (“chemistry”) under two articles of the Criminal Code: Art. 369 of the Criminal Code (Insulting a representative of the authorities) and under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Group actions grossly violating public order).
YULIYA CHAMLAI (Krupka)
Yuliya Alehauna Chamlai was detained on September 30, 2021 in a criminal case opened for comments on the Internet after the deaths of KGB officer Dzmitry Fedasyuk and an IT specialist Andrei Zeltser in the Minsk apartment.
It is known that Yulia is being held in a criminal case under Articles 369 of the Criminal Code (Insulting a representative of the authorities) and 130 of the Criminal Code (Inciting social discord).
YULIYA CHARNIAUSKAYA (Minsk)
Yuliya a Charniauskaya – Belarusian writer, culturologist, professor. Juliya is the widow of the founder of TUT.BY, Yuri Zisser.
Yuliya was arrested on May 18, 2021 in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code).
Charniauskaya was placed under house arrest.
DARYA CHULTSOVA (Minsk)
Darya Chultsova is a journalist of the Belsat TV channel
Together with the journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva, she became involved in a criminal case on organizing actions that grossly violate public order (Art. 342 of the Criminal Code), after a live broadcast from the scene of the brutal dispersal of demonstrators by the security forces on the “Square of Changes” in Minsk on November 15, 2020. Then she was detained.
On February 18, 2021, she was sentenced to two years in prison and sent to a general regime correctional colony.
LIUDMILA CHEKINA (Minsk)
Liudmila Chekina, the General Director of TUT.BY.
Liudmila was detained on May 18, 2021 in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale (part 2 of article 243 of the Criminal Code).
A criminal investigation is underway.
PALINA SHARENDA-PANASIUK (Brest)
Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk is a public activist.
Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk was detained on January 3, 2021. She was charged under Article 364 of the Criminal Code (Violence against a police officer) for scratching one of the police officers who came to her home. Later it became known that the woman was also accused of insulting the president (article 368 of the Criminal Code) and a representative of the authorities (article 369 of the Criminal Code).
On June 9, 2021, the court of the Moskovsky district of Brest passed a sentence to Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk: two years in prison in a general regime colony.
IRYNA SHCHASTNAYA (Minsk)
Iryna Shchasnaya is an activist, an editor of popular telegram channels, including Maya Kraina Belarus.
Irina was arrested on November 18, 2020, on November 27, Irina was charged under Part 2 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code (Participation in Mass Riots).
Court sentenced her to 4 years in prison.
ANASTASIYA YARASHEVICH (Lida)
Anastasiya Yarashevich is accused under the article on violence against a police officer (article 364 of the Criminal Code). She was arrested on April 15, 2021.
According to the prosecution, on September 27, 2020, in order to obstruct the actions of police officers to detain an unknown man, the girl used violence against them. She tore off a shoulder strap and then hit in the head one of them, and just tore off a shoulder strap to another one.
Court sentenced Anastasia to 2 years in prison.
HANNA ILLYINA (Mogilev)
Hanna was detained on July 26, 2021 in a criminal case. Later it became known that she was charged under an article on defamation of the president (article 367 of the Criminal Code). A criminal investigation is underway.
Some photos credits – ріхаbау and unsрlаsh