Out of jail! Eleven political prisoners served their sentences in full and were released in April
There are 1,499 political prisoners in Belarus, and their number is increasing weekly. Meanwhile, every month several dozen political prisoners are released from places of detention, either at the end of their term or after a trial before being sent to an open-type penal facility or starting a sentence of home confinement. According to Viasna, at least 16 political prisoners were released in April. Eleven of them served their full terms, and five were sentenced to home confinement and released from detention centers. Viasna presents a monthly digest detailing what the political prisoners were serving their terms for and how long they were held in places of detention.
Antanina Kavaliova spent 8 months and 26 days in jail
Antanina Kavaliova is a former deputy chairwoman of the United Civil Party. She was detained along with other party leaders on July 27, 2022.
At the Pieršamajski District Court of Minsk, Kavaliova was sentenced under part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code to 12 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony.
Uladzimir Kalach spent 1 year, 8 months, 19 days in jail
Uladzimir Kalach is a musician and the frontman of the IRDORATH folk rock band. He was detained on on August 2, 2021, at a summer house near Minsk, during the birthday party of his wife and the IRDORATH vocalist Nadzeya Kalach, together with the other musicians and guests.
The Saviecki District Court of Minsk, on December 14, 2021, sentenced Kalach to 24 months of imprisonment for “active participation in actions that grossly violate public order” (part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code). The man served his sentence in penal colony No. 3 in Vićba, Viciebsk region.
On November 4, 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs included the political prisoner in the "List of persons involved in extremist activities".
Nadzeya Kalach spent 1 year, 8 months, 19 days in jail
Nadzeya Kalach, the vocalist of the band IRDORATH, was detained on the evening of August 2, 2021, at a summer house near Minsk, while celebrating her own birthday.
The Saviecki District Court of Minsk, on December 14, 2021, sentenced her to 24 months of imprisonment for “active participation in actions that grossly violate public order” (part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code). The musician served her sentence in the women's colony No. 4.
On November 4, 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs included Nadzeya Kalach in the "List of persons involved in extremist activities".
Yauhen Raznichenka spent 2 years, 10 months, and 25 days in jail
Yauhen Raznichenka is a defendant in the "Tsikhanouski case" initiated after the election picket of May 29, 2020, in Hrodna. Raznichenka was detained the day after the incident.
On June 2, 2021, after a lengthy trial at the Kastryčnicki District Court of Hrodna, Yauhen Raznichenka was sentenced to three years and six months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony.
Alaksiej Hajshun spent 1 year, 3 months, and 8 days in jail
On April 25, 2022, the Centraĺny District Court of Homieĺ found Alaksiej Hajshun guilty under Part 1 ofArticle 342 of the Criminal Code ('Organization and preparation of actions grossly disrupting public order or active participation in them') and sentenced him to 18 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony. This was the term requested by the prosecutor.
Dzmitry Abramuk spent 1 year, 11 months, 4 days in jail
On June 17, 2021, the Maskoŭski District Court of Brest found Dzmitry Abramuk guilty under part 1 of Article 368 ('Insult to President of Belarus') for calling the police and insulting Lukashenka, and increased his sentence up to three years.
On 17 February 2022, another trial was held over the political prisoner Dzmitry Abramuk to toughen his punishment for violating the rules of the penitentiary. Three years of restricted freedom in an open-type penitentiary were replaced with 13 months and 16 days in a penal colony.
In mid-April 2022, Abramuk was transferred to penal colony #1 in Navapolack. In January 2023, it became known that he was placed in a tighter security cell until the end of his term.
Siarhei Litskevich spent 1 year, 1 month, and 14 days in jail
Siarhei Litskevich was convicted of ‘insulting the president’, ’insulting the government official’, and ‘desecrating the state symbols’ under Articles 368, 369, and 370 of the Criminal Code, respectively. In May 2022, a trial was held over him, and he was sentenced to imprisonment.
*We do not publicize information about some released political prisoners for safety reasons.
Five political prisoners were released after the trial
In April, Belarusian courts predominantly sentenced political prisoners to imprisonment. Only five people were released from detention centers last month after their trial; they were given sentences of restricted freedom under home confinement. However, these data may be incomplete, as not all the results of the trials of political prisoners are known to human rights defenders yet. These include:
Andrei Tryzubau—sentenced to three years under home confinement
Andrei Mamoika—sentenced to two and a half years under home confinement
Vera Mamoika—sentenced to two and a half years under home confinement
Yauhen Emilit—sentenced to three years under home confinement
Aliaksandra Zakharyk—sentenced to three years under home confinement
Out of jail! Twelve political prisoners served their sentences in full and were released in March
