Jailed Belarusian political activist Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk is again facing accusations of showing "disobedience" to the administration of the prison where she is incarcerated.
The latest charge is the subject of a new trial that began on October 14 in the Rechytsa district court in southeastern Belarus.
Sharendra-Panasyuk, a mother of two, has already served nearly four years in prison and could face an additional year if convicted again.
Her continued imprisonment is widely seen as a politically motivated act of repression by the Belarusian authorities.
The activist's husband, Andrey Sharenda, said his wife is now accused of “malicious disobedience to the requirements of the administration of the correctional facility.”
Before her trial, Sharenda-Panasyuk was transferred from a pretrial detention center in the regional capital, Homel, to a detention center in Rechytsa, a nearby town.
Sharenda expressed concern over her transfer to this facility, where conditions are reportedly harsh.
According to him, inmates are forced to sleep on metal slabs without mattresses or bed linen, which exacerbates his wife’s back problems.
Despite her medical condition, Sharenda claims that the authorities have subjected his wife to inhumane treatment. He also noted that her latest trial began on October 14, the same date on which Belarus celebrates Mother’s Day. Sharenda-Panasyuk has not seen her children for four years.
Sharenda-Panasyuk was initially sentenced to two and a half years in prison for insulting authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka and allegedly assaulting a police officer. Her term was extended by two years in successive trials for allegedly disobeying prison guards' commands.
Sharenda-Panasyuk was due to be released in May but has remained in custody pending investigation into the new criminal case.
Her health has been a significant concern throughout her imprisonment. In July 2024, her family learned that she had been diagnosed with moderate chronic pancreatitis. Sharenda has reported that his wife's health has deteriorated sharply in recent months, including constant stomach and back pain.
While the prison administration claims that “necessary treatment is being provided,” her husband remains skeptical about the quality of care she is receiving.
Belarusian human rights organizations have recognized Sharenda-Panasyuk as a political prisoner.
Her continued imprisonment has drawn attention both within Belarus and internationally and highlights the ongoing repression of opposition activists and dissidents in Belarus, where the government has been cracking down on any form of dissent, particularly since the disputed 2020 presidential election.
