Front Line Defenders demand to release Nasta Loika

On 29 November 2022, for the fifth time in a period of three months, the Pershamaiski District Court in Minsk, Belarus, sentenced woman human rights defender, Nasta Loika to another 15 days of administrative detention under “petty hooliganism” charges. Nasta Loika was initially scheduled to be released from her previous administrative detention on 26 November 2022. However, her colleagues reported that on herscheduled day of release they had no news about Nasta Loika’s whereabouts. The woman human rights defender is now scheduled to be released on December 14, 2022.

Nasta Loika is a prominent Belarusian woman human rights defender working in the field of human rights education. She has also worked on the use of repressive “anti-extremist” laws and advocates the protection of the migrants and stateless people's rights in Belarus. In the summer of 2021, Belarusian authorities shut down the organization where she previously worked - Human Constanta - which promoted public interest and joint actions in response to current challenges in the field of human rights. The shutdown was part of an orchestrated attack against the civil society in the country.

On 29 November 2022, the Pershamaiski District Court in Minsk, once again sentenced Nasta Loika to 15 days of administrative detention under “petty hooliganism” charges under Article 19.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences. On 28 November 2022, at 10 am Minsk time, the premises of Nasta Loika’s mother’s home were raided by the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Belarus officials. The Directorate is responsible for investigating criminal cases, however, the woman human rights defender’s colleagues suspect that this was an act of pressure against Nasta Loika. At this stage, it is unclear, whether Nasta Loika continues to be exposed to torture in detention.

This is the third consecutive and the fifth overall administrative arrest for “petty hooliganism” against Nasta Loika in 2022. During her previous periods of administrative detention, the woman human rights defender had no access to legal support and was denied the right to receive medication and warm clothes while in detention. Nasta Loika reported that previously, while in detention, she was exposed to torture and inhumane treatment.

Front Line Defenders is gravely concerned about the repeated arrest and detention of woman human rights defender Nasta Loika, as well as troubling reports of physical and psychological violence that the woman human rights defender has beensubjected to while in detention. Front Line Defenders also condemns the targeting of Nasta Loika’s mother. Front Line Defenders believes that the woman human rights defender is being repeatedly targeted for her peaceful human rights work in Belarus and for her refusal to leave the country. The persistent charges and arrests of Nasta Loika reflect the increasing attacks against Belarus's human rights defenders and civil society by Belarusian authorities. Front Line Defenders call for the immediate and unconditional release of woman human rights defender Nasta Loika and for an end to these repeated attacks against her.