Criminal prosecution in Belarus: legal system completely reoriented towards repression Document

Viasna human rights defenders prepared a report “Criminal prosecution for political reasons. Belarus 2021–2022”, in which they analyzed lawsuits and persecution by the authorities against the country's citizens in the previous year. The report aims to raise awareness of the public, national and international institutions, and state bodies about human rights violations in 2021–2022 in Belarus. This post-electoral period is characterized by severe human rights crisis and total destruction and suppression of civil society.

From April 2021 to April 2022, human rights activists monitored more than 1,200 trials and court decisions in criminal cases. They concluded that repressions were widespread and that there were continuing violations of national law, and constitutional and internationally recognized fair trial standards, which undermines confidence in the rule of law as well as trust and respect for the justice system.

“Again, it should be stated that the authorities of Belarus commit widespread and systemic violations of human rights, and the legal system of the country is unable to provide adequate legal protection of violated rights and is completely reoriented towards repression” is noted in the report.