University Teachers, Head Of Student Dormitory Standing Trial In Minsk

For participating in demonstrations.

The Frunzensky District Court began considering a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code, filed against university teachers Natallia Sivitskaya, Nadzeja Staravojtava, and the head of the student dormitory Alena Drabudzka. They are accused of participating in protests in 2020, and subscribing to “destructive” channels, writes nashaniva.com.

Before her arrest, political prisoner Natallia Sivitskaya worked as an associate professor at the department of Belarusian and Russian languages at the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture, candidate of philological sciences. In a video published by pro-government channels, she says that she took part in the protests.

Nadzeja Staravojtava is a teacher of the Belarusian language, candidate of philological sciences and associate professor of the department of Belarusian and Russian languages. Nadzeja was detained on July 23. In the video, she says that she attended rallies in 2020, during which she took to the road, and was also subscribed to “destructive” Telegram channels.

Alena Drabudzka was detained in early August. She worked as the head of students dormitory #4 of Belarusian State Economic University.

Pro-regime Telegram channels claim that the woman “incited students to participate in breaking the law in 2020 and has been campaigning against the authorities ever since.” In the video, the detainee says that she participated in one of the peaceful protests in 2020.

Judge Alena Bushava has been appointed to consider the case.