Homiel activists and bloggers pressured by police
Activist get under more pressure once they get out of prison
Even after they get sentenced in Homiel, activists and bloggers stay under pressure from the police and authorities. Right after getting his freedom a few days ago, activist Uladzimir Nyapomnyashchykh received another subpoena for the distribution of Nazi symbols. The activist published in his online photo album a collage of photos of Hitler and Lukashenka and immediately fell under scrutiny of the department combatting organized crime.
Freedom of blogger Maksim Filipovich ‘not guaranteed’
The police are also active in applying pressure on other active Homiel citizens — blogger Maksim Filipovich was sentenced to 13 days in prison for taking part in an unsanctioned rally, but then he received another 5 days. The blogger pleaded not guilty and decided to go on hunger strike.
Homiel police never forgot about journalists
The freelancer Larysa Shchyrakova has already ‘received’ 6 protocols, in addition, the police threatened to take away her son. For coverage of the protests in Mahiliou and Rahachou, journalist Yauhen Merkis has been fined 30 basic units and received a prosecutor’s warning, while Kastus Zhukouski was subpoenaed by both prosecutor’s office and the KGB.
According to human rights center “Viasna” activist Leanid Sudalenka, in the issue of repression, regional authorities are guided by their Minsk colleagues.
In total, for participating in the latest rally in Homiel, 14 people received various sentences. There were 44 days of arrests and more than BYN 900 rubles of fines. But while some get sentences, others come out — blogger Dzmitry Saburau, activist Viktar Rubtsou, and Uladzimir Katsora have been released in the last couple of days.
Nastassya Hralovich, “Belsat”
