Фото: court.gov.by
The Vitebsk Regional Court has scheduled the start of the trial in absentia of the “Honest People” initiative for November 5, the Human Rights Center Viasna reported.
The case was investigated under special proceedings. Earlier, the initiative had been designated an “extremist formation.” Charges have been brought against Alena Zhivahlod, Zaryna Sаrоkina, Aleh Davydchyk, and Tsimafei Malakhouski under the following articles:
• Discrediting the state (Article 369-1 of the Criminal Code);
• Incitement of social hatred and discord (Part 3, Article 130);
• Insult and defamation against Lukashenko (Part 2, Article 368; Part 1, Article 367);
• Calls for sanctions against the Republic of Belarus (Part 3, Article 361).
“Members of the organized group created the appearance of lawful activity under the guise of building and developing a politically active civil society in the Republic of Belarus, which allowed them to act with impunity for an extended period,” the Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement when the case was referred to court.
The initiative was founded in 2020 to counter election fraud during the presidential vote. Its volunteers sought to join local election commissions and served as observers. Together with the organizations Golos and ZUBR.in, “Honest People” launched online platforms for monitoring polling stations and the “Golos” platform for independent vote counting.