Maryia Tarasenka
volunteer of the Homieĺ branch of the Human Rights Center "Viasna"
Former prisoner
Date of detention: 18 January 2021
Charges indicted:
- Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
Judge: Siarhei Sakalouski
Prosecutor: Yauhen Fartushniak, Kiryl Vyshniakou
Maryia Tarasenka is a volunteer of the Homieĺ branch of the Human Rights Center "Viasna".
Maryia Tarasenka was detained on January 18 and placed in a detention center. Her house was also searched. Tarasenka’s status in the case and the charges she was facing were not disclosed.
Earlier, Tarasenka was part of an initiative campaigning for the abolition of the so-called "social parasites law" and sued local officials in the Homieĺ region, who banned protests against the law.
On January 20, a coalition of Belarusian human rights organizaitons called Maryia Tarasenka a political prisoner. The following days, January 21, the activist was released after spending 72 hours in detention.
