More than 150 people convicted in Belarus for donations

Belarus continues to put people on trial for showing solidarity with victims of political repression and for supporting Belarusian volunteers in Ukraine.

At least 159 people in Belarus have already been convicted for monetary transfers to solidarity funds and other initiatives that the authorities have designated as "extremist" and "terrorist," the human rights center "Viasna" reports.

33 of those convicted are women, and 26 are IT specialists. 44 people were convicted for donations in support of Ukraine.

46 political prisoners convicted for donations have been pardoned.

However, not all cases make it to court. The security forces practice a "voluntary ransom" scheme: hundreds of Belarusians are offered the option of transferring money to the account of one or another state institution. At the same time, the "ransom" amount is many times higher than the original donation.

Those who do go to trial are handed harsh real-term sentences — up to nine and a half years in a penal colony.