Persecution for anti-war protest must stop: five more people recognized as political prisoners
Statement by the human rights community of Belarus
July 8, 2022
We, representatives of the Belarusian human rights community, reiterate that imprisonment and criminal liability for protest actions are used by the authorities to suppress public and political activism, dissent, and anti-war protests.
Criminal legislation has been substantially tightened and extended with new corpus delicti, which are used by the authorities solely for the purpose of political repression.
Out-of-court, the Interior Ministry and the KGB arbitrarily recognize as extremist citizens' groups brought together by public or political interests, criticizing the actions of the authorities and demanding reforms in the state and its policies. This in turn paves the way for the arbitrary prosecution and imprisonment of their members as a disproportionate measure restricting the right to association and freedom of expression. For instance:
- Ms. Aksana Auchynskuya was taken into custody in the detention center on charges of promoting extremist activity under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code for sending information about Russian military equipment movement to one of the Telegram channels.
- Mr. Aleh Khramykh was taken into custody in the detention center on charges of promoting extremist activity under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code for sending information about Russian military equipment movement in Belarus to one of the Telegram channels.
- Mr. Andrei Raptunovich was detained in a pre-trial detention center on charges of participation in an extremist formation under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code and preparation for participation in warfare on the territory of a foreign state under Article 361-3.
- Mr. Aliaksandr Zahdai was detained in a pre-trial detention center on charges of promoting extremist activities under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code for sending information to one of the Telegram channels.
- Mr. Kanstantsin Baisarau was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a penal colony on charges of promoting extremist activities under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code for sending information about Russian military equipment to one of the Telegram channels.
It can be concluded in the context of the military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, and the following anti-war protest and solidarity actions with the people of Ukraine in Belarus that in these cases citizens are persecuted for their political views as well as for the non-violent exercise of freedom of expression, dissemination of information and association.
Therefore, we recognize them as political prisoners in accordance with paragraph 3.1 (a) of the Guidelines on the Definition of “Political Prisoner”, and demand that the Belarusian authorities:
- to immediately release the political prisoners Ms. Aksana Auchynskuya, Mr. Aleh Khramykh, Mr. Andrei Raptunovich, Mr. Aliaksandr Zahdai, and Mr. Kanstantsin Baisarau;
- immediately release all political prisoners and end political repression in the country.
Human Rights Center Viasna
Human Constanta
Lawtrend
PEN Belarus
Legal initiative
Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House
