"People Are Outraged, the Tension Is Growing"

• 31.05.2021, 14:47

In Belarus, there is an alienation from those who are associated with the internal affairs bodies; there is civil disobedience.

On May 31, judge Vera Filonik began the trial of the second group of people in the Pinsk case in the Maskouski district of Brest, Belsat reports.

This time, 11 people are on trial. These are Leanid Hermanovich, Aliaksandr Lapukh, Andrei Matsuk, Siarhei Tsibets, Andrei Khveskavets, Aliaksandr Shandyba, Aliaksandr and Siarhei Shalamitski, Siarhei Volkau, Valiantsin Kolb, Illia Bokhan. Uladzimir Khomitsevich appeared on the list of defendants, but he did not appear at the trial.

Pinsk residents are tried for the protests on August 9-10, 2020 in their hometown, everyone is accused of participating in "mass riots" (part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus). On the evening of August 9, Pinsk residents, who wanted to know the results of the elections, gathered near the local regional executive committee. There was a clash with the police: people began to defend themselves against the attacks of the security forces.

On April 30, judge Yauhen Brehan passed the following verdicts to the first 14 defendants:

- Siarhei Moushuk and Aliaksandr Tsiareshka - 6.5 years each in a maximum-security colony;

Raman Bahnavets, Daniil Bohnat, Ryhor Hunka, Siarhei Lezhenka, Stanislau Mikhailau, Viachaslau Rahashchuk, Ihar Salavei, Artur Halimonchyk - 6 years in a maximum security colony;

- mother of many children Alena Moushuk - 6 years in a general regime colony;

- David Mastitski, Aleh Rubets, Viachaslau Shelemet - 5.5 years in a maximum-security colony.

- We have a second group of people, the accusation is ridiculous. I can assume that the sentences will again be terrifying and not in line with the process. This time, the relatives have no illusions, everyone is waiting, - said human rights activist Veranika Ivanova.

According to her, the accusations for the new group are far-fetched, and people would not have been prosecuted for such actions previously.

The "Pinsk case" divided the residents of the city into two camps, and, in the future, this can lead to very sad consequences, says Veranika Ivanova:

- In Pinsk, people are outraged. They thought that the case would be closed or retrained, but now the tension is growing. There is an alienation from those who are associated with the internal affairs bodies, even some family ties have been destroyed, there is civil - although, still passive - disobedience in many respects.