List of political prisoners updated with 20 new names

Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community

March 15, 2023

The Belarusian human rights community notes an increase in the number of convictions and imprisonments under several defamation and desecration of state symbols articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, and for other actions aimed at the lawful exercise of the freedom of expression.
 
We demand to put an end to the persecution of legitimate expression of views and, reaffirming our repeated calls to decriminalize defamation and to refrain from imposing custodial sentences for insulting officials, the state, government agencies, and symbols (as mentioned in the Joint statement of December 22, 2020), note the following:

At the moment we know about the following persons imprisoned for having allegedly insulted Mr. Aliaksandr Lukashenka, police officers, judges, desecrated state and state symbols, and exercised their freedom of opinion in other forms:

1. Ms. Volha Barushka was convicted of “insulting a government official” and “insulting a judge” and sentenced to three years of imprisonment in a penal colony under Articles 369 and 391 of the Criminal Code.
2. Ms. Natallia Piatrovich was placed in custody under Article 368 of the Criminal Code for “insulting the president of Belarus”.
3. Mr. Andrei Stsepaniuk was convicted of “insulting the president of Belarus” and sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment in a penal colony under Article 368 of the Criminal Code.
4. Mr. Aliaksei Ushakou was convicted of “insulting the president of Belarus” under Article 368 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment in a penal colony.
5. Mr. Aliaksei Aliakseichyk was convicted of “calling for restrictive measures (sanctions)” under Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to two and a half years of imprisonment in a penal colony.
6. Mr. Kiryl Plakushchau was convicted of “damaging property” with protest graffiti and sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment in a penal colony under Article 341 of the Criminal Code.
7. Mr. Maksim Kamkou was convicted of “insulting a police officer” and sentenced to 18 months of restricted freedom in an open penitentiary under Art. 369 of the Criminal Code. He has started to serve his sentence.
8. Mr. Pavel Trafimchuk was convicted of “insulting a government official” and sentenced to two years and 2 months of restricted freedom in an open penitentiary under Article 369 of the Criminal Code. He has started to serve his sentence.
9. Mr. Piotr Staratsitarau was detained under Article 368 of the Criminal Code for “insulting the president of Belarus”.
10. Mr. Andrei Aliashkevich was convicted of “insulting the president of Belarus” under Part 368 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment in a penal colony.
11. Mr. Stanislau Ilin was convicted of “insulting the president” under Article 368 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment in a penal colony.
12. Mr. Aliaksei Mihno was convicted of “desecrating state symbols” under Article 370 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment in a penal colony for removing a state flag.
13. Mr. Dzmitryi Harbunou was placed in custody for “insulting” Mr. Lukashenka and a government official under Articles 368 and 369 of the Criminal Code.
14. Mr. Yauhen Miras was convicted of “insulting the president of Belarus” under Article 368 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment in a penal colony.
15. Mr. Leanid Ulasiuk was convicted of “insulting the president” under Article 368 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment in a penal colony.
16. Mr. Dzmitryi Lazar was convicted of “insulting” a judge, a government official and Mr. Lukashenka and sentenced to two and a half years of imprisonment in a penal colony under Articles 391, 369, 368 of the Criminal Code. 
17. Mr. Mikalai Klimovich was convicted of “insulting the president” under Article 368 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment in a penal colony.
18. Mr. Siarhei Zaikouski was convicted of “damaging property” and “slandering the president of Belarus” and sentenced to imprisonment in a penal colony under Articles 341 and 367 of the Criminal Code.
19. Mr. Yury Bubnou was detained under Article 367 of the Criminal Code for “slandering” Mr. Lukashenka.
20. Ms. Katsiaryna Kalybenka was convicted and sentenced to three and a half years of restricted freedom in an open-type penal facility under Articles 369 and 364 of the Criminal Code for a commentary towards an internal bodies officer posted on the internet. She has started to serve his sentence.

We consider the persecution and imprisonment of the persons listed above politically motivated in nexus with the peaceful exercise of their views. Therefore, we recognize these persons as political prisoners per paragraph 3.1 (a) of the Guidelines on the Definition of Political Prisoners. We demand that the Belarusian authorities:

1. Immediately release the political prisoners Ms. Volha Barushka, Ms. Natallia Piatrovich, Mr. Andrei Stsepaniuk, Mr. Aliaksei Ushakou, Mr. Aliaksei Aliakseichyk, Mr. Kiryl Plakushchau, Mr. Maksim Kamkou, Mr. Pavel Trafimchuk, Mr. Piotr Staratsitarau, Mr. Andrei Aliashkevich, Mr. Stanislau Ilin, Mr. Aliaksei Mihno, Mr. Dzmitryi Harbunou, Mr. Yauhen Miras, Mr. Leanid Ulasiuk, Mr. Dzmitryi Lazar, Mr. Mikalai Klimovich, Mr. Siarhei Zaikouski, Mr. Yury Bubnou, and Ms. Katsiaryna Kalybenka and stop the criminal prosecution against them.
2. Decriminalize defamation offenses and abolish the articles of the Criminal Code that institute liability for insulting the state and state symbols, namely Articles 188, 189, 361, 367, 368, 369-369, 1, 370, and 391 of the Criminal Code, and drop all ongoing criminal cases under these articles.
3. Immediately release all political prisoners and stop political repression.

Human Rights Center Viasna

Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

PEN Belarus

Belarusian Association of Journalists

Legal Initiative

Lawtrend

Belarusian Helsinki Committee

Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House