Belarusian Civil Rights Activist Cuts Himself in Court to Protest Closed-Door Trial

Belarusian activist Dzmitry Paliyenka is facing trial for “malicious hooliganism.” (Amnesty International)

Dzmitry Paliyenka, a Belarusian civil rights activist, cut himself in the courtroom in protest of the closed-door policy upheld for his trial on October 17. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Radio Svaboda argues that Paliyenka’s prosecution is indicative of larger threats to civil rights in Belarus. 

Paliyenka was charged in March with “malicious hooliganism” for his use of pepper spray against another individual. He was also charged with vandalism, publicly insulting the interior minister, and inciting violence online. This is not the first time that Paliyenka has spent time behind bars. In 2016, he was arrested while at a protest in Minsk and sentenced to two years in prison for threatening to attack a police officer. 

During the prison sentence that resulted from Paliyenka’s 2016 arrest, Amnesty International issued a statement “calling on the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Dzmitry Paliyenka, a prisoner of conscience who has been imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.” 

“Dzmitry Paliyenka’s prosecution follows a well-documented history of being targeted and harassed by the authorities for his activism,” Amnesty International recently wrote in a press statement.

By cutting his arms in the courtroom, Paliyenka succeeded in reversing the closed-door policy of his trial. After an hour-long suspension, the judge announced the trial would be open, which will allow Paliyenka’s loved ones and supporters to attend. Additionally, prosecutors reduced the charges against Paliyenka to only one count of malicious hooliganism. Still, Radio Svadoba maintained that “rights activists have called [the charge] politically motivated.”

Despite the success of his courtroom protest, Amnesty International writes that Paliyenka’s experience with the Belarusian government is representative of the lack of civil rights in Belarus.  According to an Amnesty International press release, the Belarusian government has long trampled on freedom of expression. “The latest moves by the Belarusian authorities demonstrate their resolve to eliminate all critical voices in the country and deprive people in Belarus of the opportunity to freely access, share and disseminate information and ideas,” Amnesty International wrote.

The result of Paliyenka’s trial had not been announced at the time of publication.