News on anarchist political prisoners in Belarus, February 2023

On 7 February, Dzmitry Dubouski’s appeal hearing took place in the Minsk City Court. Judge Jauhien Pisarevich left the sentence unchanged. Dzmitry’s cumulative sentence for participation in direct actions in 2008-2010 and in 2020 is 20 years of imprisonment.
On 25 February Dzmitry was transferred to a penal colony nr. 3 near Viciebsk.

Also on 7 February, Krystsina Charankova’s appeal hearing happened. Her sentence (two-and-a-half years for “fueling hatred” against cops via instagram comments) was left without changes.
On 17 February, Belarusian ministry of internal affairs revised its “List of extremists”. In-between others, Krystsina was added to this list.
Later in February Krystsina was transferred to a penal colony nr. 4 in Homiel.

On 9 February it became known that Jauhien Rubashka had been transferred to a closed cell in a penal colony nr. 2. Closed cell means a severe limitation of possibility to move around and to be outdoors. Before that prison administration did put Jauhien into a punishment isolation cell three times, for 10, 7 and 7 days, on invented grounds.

On 14 February the court considered Anastasia Kukhta’s appeal. The sentence was left unchanged. Back on 11 November 2022 Anastasia received 5 year sentence on various charges related to peaceful assemblies in 2020.
This monthly summary of news is illustrated by drawings which Anastasia made in imprisonment.

In the first half of February, Siarhei Ramanau got out of a punishment isolation cell where he had spent 15 days. Siarhei is still in a closed cell of a penal colony nr. 4 in Vaukavysk; prison administration had sent him there in December 2022 for 4 months.

On 14 February, Ihar Alinevich got out of a punishment isolation cell (it seems that he had spent there a month). During this time, he received only 2 letters from his mother out of 8 letters she have sent.

On 18 February, Mikita Jemialjanau got out of a punishment isolation cell. In spite of a continuous pressure from the side of prison administration and regular punishment by isolation cell, Mikita does physical exercises in order to be fit.

On 28 February, the supreme court considered appeals of anarchists sentenced in a so-called ‘international criminal organisation’ process.
Sentences of Aliaksandr Frantskevich, Akikhira Gajeuski-Khanada, Marfa Rabkova and Andrei Chapiuk were shortened by 3 months. All other sentences remained unchainged.
The following sentences took effect:
Aliaksandr Frantskevich – 16 years and 9 months of imprisonment;
Akikhira Gajeuski-Khanada – 15 years and 9 months;
Marfa Rabkova – 14 years and 9 months;
Aliaksei Halauko – 12 years;
Aliaksandr Kazlianka – 6 years;
Mikita Dranets – 6 years;
Pavel Shpetny – 6 years;
Andrei Chapiuk – 5 years and 9 months;
Andrei Marach – 5 years;
Daniil Chul’ – 5 years.

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