EU Diplomats Came To Support Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk
- 14.10.2024, 14:45
A photo fact.
Today, on October 14, the trial of the political prisoner, activist of the European Belarus civil campaign Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk began in Rechytsa. She is accused under the article on “malicious disobedience to the administration of the colony”.
The case will be heard by Judge Stanislau Ivaniutsenka, who tried the political prisoner last year and added a year to her imprisonment.
EU diplomats came to support the political prisoner, the German embassy in Belarus reports.
“The fact that the mother of two minor children is forced to appear before the court again on Mother's Day despite having already served a prison term demonstrates the ruthlessness of the Belarusian regime towards dissidents. The German federal government demands the release of political prisoners in Belarus,” the German embassy said in a statement.
Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk was supposed to be released on May 21, but on that day it turned out that she was transferred from the colony to a pretrial detention center and was charged with a new charge — malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of the colony. This is her third charge under this article.
In 2021, Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk was sentenced to two years in prison. In April 2022, she received another year in prison under Article 411 of the Criminal Code (“Malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of a correctional institution”). This term was supposed to end on August 6, 2023, but another case was opened against the European Belarus activist for “disobedience” and 1 year of imprisonment was added.
Over the years, Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk was placed in solitary confinement several times, and was also sent to cell-type premises for six months. Palina remains in complete isolation. In the colony, the European Belarus activist's health deteriorated significantly. The activist was diagnosed with a serious illness — moderate chronic pancreatitis. In prison conditions, it can be fatal for the political prisoner.