Коллаж: spring96.org/be
On June 2, the Supreme Court of Belarus will consider an appeal in the in absentia case of activists from the “Honest People” initiative — Alena Zhylachkina (Zhyvahlod), Zaryna Sarokina, Aleh Davydchyk and Timafei Malakhouski, the human rights centre “Viasna” reported.
The verdict in the case was delivered on January 22 by the Viciebsk Regional Court. The activists were charged under several articles of the Criminal Code, including “discrediting Belarus”, “inciting hatred”, “insulting and defaming Lukashenka”, as well as “calling for sanctions against the Republic of Belarus”.
Alena Zhylachkina was sentenced to 10 years in a general-regime penal colony and fined 67,500 rubles. Zaryna Sarokina, Timafei Malakhouski and Aleh Davydchyk were each sentenced to 8 years in a penal colony and fined 40,500 rubles.
The “Honest People” initiative was established in 2020 to counter fraud in the presidential election. Its volunteers attempted to join precinct election commissions and acted as observers. Together with the organisations “Golos” and “ZUBR.in”, “Honest People” launched online platforms to monitor polling stations and the “Golos” platform for independent vote counting.