Belarusian human rights watchdogs declare detainees in Tsikhanouski’s case political prisoners
Another seven persons accused of ‘orchestrating group actions that grossly violate public order’ have been recognised as political prisoners.
A week ago, Belarusian human rights defenders declared might-have been presidential candidate Syarhei Tsikhanouski prisoner of conscience.
In a joint statement dated by June 9, a number of human rights organisations urged the Belarusian authorities to immediately release Syarhei Tsikhanouski, Yauhen Raznichenka, Dzmitry Furmanau, Vyarhily Ushak, Alyaksandr Aranovich, Vasil Babrouski, Artem Sakau, and Uladzimir Navumik and stated that the persecution was politically motivated.
According to them, the detainees did not violate the order of collecting signatures in support of the presidential candidates during the picket on May 29 in Hrodna, and the picket itself complied both with legal requirements and the standards of peaceful assembly.
“The events that preceded the detention (President Lukashenka’s statements about Tsikhanouski; some women’s attempt to interfere and provoke a controversy at the picket, illegal intervention by police officers and framing Syarhei Tsikhanouski; a demonstrative fall to the ground; state-run media’s subsequent reaction to the incident) prompt our conclusion that a provocative act might have been committed against Syarhei Tsikhanouski and Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya‘s initiative group,” the statement reads.
In May, Syarhei Tsikhanouski, the author of Youtube channel Страна Для Жизни ( A Country for Life), revealed his presidential ambitions while serving a 15-day jail term for participating in unauthorised mass events.
However, the Belarusian Central Election Commission refused to register his initiative group. According to them, only a person who intends to campaign for the presidency must sign the documents.As Syarhei Tsikhanouski was in custody at that moment, all the necessary documents were signed and filed by his wife. On the back of the situation, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya managed to get her initiative group registered instead.
On May 29, the police arrested Syarhei Tsikhanouski, head of his wife’s nomination group, and at least 15 persons during a peaceful picket in Hrodna. It should be noted that one of the women (Alena K.) who showed up at the picket attempted to stir up a conflict with Tsikhanouski, which resulted in pushing and jostling. According to the official version, one policeman fell down and had to be taken to hospital. On May 30, the Interior Ministry initiated criminal investigation into an alleged act of violence against two police officers.
The police searched the homes of the most of the detainees; some were transferred to Minsk remand prison #1.
On June 9, the Belarusian Investigative Committee stated that Syarhei Tsikhanouski and seven other persons were charged under Art. 342-1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus. The above article may carry a punishment of up to 3 years in prison.
