Political prisoner list updated with 28 new people

Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community

Minsk, May 18, 2023

In connection with information about charges being brought, arrests made, and sentences handed down

• under part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code ("group actions grossly violating public order") against Mr. Mikita Naidzionau, Ms. Anastasiya Dulher, Mr. Dzmitryi Mitskevich, Ms. Alena Mitskevich, Mr. Uladzislau Dubrouski, Mr. Ihar Budnik, Mr. Siarhei Dzeshchyts, Mr. Dzianis Niadbainik, Mr. Viktar Sabaleuski, Ms. Sviatlana Sabaleuskaya, Ms. Palina Pachapskaya, Ms. Volha Kolas, Ms. Palina Savich, Ms. Maryia Nekrashevich, Ms. Tatsiana Nekrashevich, Ms. Zlata Filipovich, Ms. Hanna Huzava, Ms. Yuliya Hlushitskaya, Ms. Sviatlana Kasinskaya, Ms. Maryiana Khadasevich, Ms. Valeryia Bayarovich, Mr. Dzmitryi Bayarovich, Mr. Vital Pryneslik, Mr. Uladzislau Adamushka, and Ms. Volha Matskevich,
• under part 1 of Article 342 and Article 368 of the Criminal Code (“insulting the president of Belarus”) against Mr. Yury Breiva,
• under Article 369 (“insulting a government official”) against Ms. Tatsiania Radchanka, and
• under part 1 of Article 342, Article 391 (“insulting a judge”), Article 367 (“slander against the president of Belarus”), and Article 368 against Mr. Aliaksandr Zakhozhau,

we reiterate the position expressed in our joint statement from August 10, 2020, and note the following:

Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantees freedom of peaceful assembly. This freedom is not subject to any restrictions other than those established by law and necessary in a democratic society for the purposes of national and public security, public order, public health, and morals, or the protection of the rights, and freedoms of others.

The post-election protests were spontaneous and self-organized. They were caused by distrust of the results of the August 9, 2020, presidential election, which was marred by numerous violations and fraud and was not recognized by the international community as democratic, fair, and free.

Citizens assembled peacefully and posed no threat to national or public security. However, the demonstrators were attacked by special units of the Interior Ministry with disproportionate use of physical force, special equipment, and weapons.

For the first time in the history of Belarus, rubber bullets and water cannons were used against peaceful demonstrators. The use of stun grenades inflicted a considerable amount of damage.

In our statement of August 10, 2020, the Belarusian human rights community condemned the actions of law enforcement agencies and placed all responsibility for what happened on August 9 and 10 on the authorities of Belarus.

We assess the persecution of the above-mentioned individuals as politically motivated, as it is related solely to their exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression in the post-election period and recognize them as political prisoners.

We demand that the Belarusian authorities:

• Immediately release from custody and stop the criminal prosecution of Mr. Mikita Naidzionau, Ms. Anastasiya Dulher, Mr. Dzmitryi Mitskevich, Ms. Alena Mitskevich, Mr. Uladzislau Dubrouski, Mr. Ihar Budnik, Mr. Siarhei Dzeshchyts, Mr. Dzianis Niadbainik, Mr. Viktar Sabaleuski, Ms. Sviatlana Sabaleuskaya, Ms. Palina Pachapskaya, Ms. Volha Kolas, Ms. Palina Savich, Ms. Maryia Nekrashevich, Ms. Tatsiana Nekrashevich, Ms. Zlata Filipovich, Ms. Hanna Huzava, Ms. Yuliya Hlushitskaya, Ms. Sviatlana Kasinskaya, Ms. Maryiana Khadasevich, Ms. Valeryia Bayarovich, Mr. Dzmitryi Bayarovich, Mr. Vital Pryneslik, Mr. Uladzislau Adamushka, Ms. Volha Matskevich, Mr. Yury Breiva, Ms. Tatsiania Radchanka, and Mr. Aliaksandr Zakhozhau.
• Immediately release all political prisoners, and other individuals detained in connection with their exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly in the post-election period, and stop political repression in the country.

Human Rights Center Viasna

Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Belarusian Helsinki Committee

Belarusian Association of Journalists

Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House

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