More than 100 people were convicted in criminal cases on protesting in Belarus in July, the Viasna human rights center, which is unregistered in the country, said.
“No less than 107 people were convicted in ‘protest’ criminal cases in July. The majority (were convicted) in Minsk and the Brest region, 53 and 20 people, respectively,” Viasna said on its website on August 1.
According to the human rights center, custodial sentences were handed down in 77.6% of the cases. “Cumulatively, courts sentenced 61 people to 271 years, three months, and two days of imprisonment in the ‘protest’ criminal cases known by Viasna in July. Another 18 people were sentenced to custodial restraint in an open penal institution for 41 years and two months. Courts sentenced 24 more people to custodial restraint for 52 years and 11 months without sending them to an open penal institution,” Viasna said.
Additionally, “three politically motivated judgments” were handed down to underage persons in July, it said.
The Investigative Committee of Belarus said earlier that 4,691 criminal cases on unlawful mass events, riots, protests, and infringement on state sovereignty and public security have been opened since August 2020.
