The events related to trade union activist Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk are an indisputable act of violation of elementary rights and freedoms of the activist, who defended her beliefs. The trial, which started on October 2nd in the court of Rechytsa district, became a new stage in the difficult fate of this public activist from Brest.
On October 9, Judge Stanislau Ivaniutsienka passed a sentence that added one more year of imprisonment to the already imposed three years for her previous participation in political actions. She was found guilty of "malicious disobedience of the colony administration" under Article 411, part 2 of the Criminal Code.
Despite her hard fate and unjust accusation, Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk did not lose her courage and integrity. In her last words before the court, she compared the current events in Belarus with historical moments, stressing that people, ready to sacrifice their freedom for the ideals of independence and democracy, will be recognized as heroes of the new Belarus in the future. At the same time, those who are currently persecuting them will have to answer to the court.
Palina confidently stated that Belarus would definitely become free, but for this purpose one should fight, not give up.
It's worth recalling that Polina is a trade unionist and public activist from Brest, detained on January 3, 2021 on charges of assaulting the police and insulting Lukashenka. For which she was sentenced to 2 years in prison. At the end of February 2022, a new criminal case under Article 411 was opened against the political prisoner and she was sentenced to an additional year in prison.
Palina is the first female political prisoner in Belarus convicted under this article. Article 411 of the Criminal Code allows the authorities to keep any prisoner behind bars indefinitely, adding an additional year of imprisonment every year.