After an unexpected break in the trial of the activists of Belarusian independent trade unions - political prisoners

- another session was held on January 4.

Today, human rights defenders learned that judge

is going to announce the sentence to the defendant on January 5.

Political prisoners are accused of the following articles:

• Part 1, Art.

  361-1 of the Criminal Code (Participation in extremist formation);

• Part 3 of Art.

  361 of the Criminal Code (Calls for actions aimed at harming the national security of Belarus);

• Part 3 of Art.

  130 of the Criminal Code (Inciting social enmity);

• part 3 of article 361-1 of the Criminal Code (Creation of an extremist formation and participation in it).

Who is being judged

• Vyacheslav Oreshka

  is a Belarusian political scientist and public figure, an activist of the REP trade union, known as Vaclav Oreshka.

  Detained on April 19, 2022 after a search of the apartment.

  Vyacheslav was placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center, he was charged.

  In July, he was transferred to pre-trial detention center-1 on Volodarsky Street in Minsk.

• Vasil Berasnev

  is the leader of the Orsha independent REP trade union, acting chairman of the REP trade union.

  He was detained on April 19, 2022 as part of a criminal case.

  The man was placed in a pre-trial detention center and charged.

  Vasyl's health deteriorated significantly in the pre-trial detention center, he suffers from pain in his only kidney.

• Genadz Fiadynich

  is the former head of the independent trade union of workers of the radio electronic industry (REP).

  In 2018, for active trade union activity, he was sentenced to 4 years of restriction of freedom without referral ("home chemistry").

  On April 11, 2022, the KGB recognized the Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry Workers (REP) as an "extremist organization."

  Gennady was detained on April 19, 2022 and placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center.

  Later he was transferred to SIZA-1.