Belarusian human rights defenders recognize another 12 political prisoners

Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community

21 June 2023

We, representatives of the human rights community in Belarus, once again note that imprisonment and criminal liability for various protest activities are used by the authorities solely to suppress public and political activism, dissent, and anti-war protests.

In 2021, Criminal legislation was significantly tightened and supplemented with new crimes, which are used by the authorities solely for political repression, violating human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Ministry of Interior and the KGB arbitrarily recognize as extremist groups of citizens who are united by public or political interests, criticize the actions of the authorities, and demand changes in the state system and its policies. In addition, some media and other social, political, and cultural bodies have been declared extremist formations. This, in turn, paves the way for the arbitrary prosecution and imprisonment of their participants and members as a disproportionate measure of restriction of the right to freedom of association and expression. Thus:

1. Ruslan Zavadzich was convicted on charges of financing extremist activity under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to three years of imprisonment;

2. Mikalai Bankau was imprisoned on charges of financing extremist activity under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donating to an association that had been arbitrarily recognized as an extremist formation;

3. Aliaksei Arlou was imprisoned on charges of financing extremist activity under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donating to an association that had been arbitrarily recognized as an extremist formation;

4. Andrei Ramanovich was imprisoned on charges of promoting extremist activity under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code over passing information to an association that had been arbitrarily recognized as an extremist formation;

5. Uladzislau Savitski was taken into custody on charges of insulting A. Lukashenka under part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code and promoting extremist activity under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code;

6. Tatsiana Pytsko was taken into custody on charges of participating in an extremist formation under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code;

7. Vital Charnavusau was convicted on charges of financing extremist activities under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donating to a foundation supporting victims of arbitrary politically motivated repression and sentenced to five years of imprisonment and a fine of $6,000;

8. Andrei Prymaka was taken into custody on charges of insulting A. Lukashenka under Article 368 part 1 of the Criminal Code, membership in an extremist formation under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code, participation in protests under Article 342 part 1 of the Criminal Code;

9. Alesia Shapkina was taken into custody on charges of financing extremist activity under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code;

10. Dzmitry Shauchenka was taken into custody on charges of creating an extremist formation - a social media group that published protest and anti-war content (Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code).

11. Uladzimir Tychynski was taken into custody on charges of promoting extremist activity under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code for passing information to an association that had been arbitrarily recognized as an extremist formation;

12. Yauhen Parkhomenka was imprisoned on charges of financing extremist activity under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code;

We recognize these people as political prisoners under paragraph 3.1(a) of the Guidelines on the Definition of Political Prisoners, and demand that the Belarusian authorities

• immediately release political prisoners Ruslan Zavadzich, Mikalai Bankau, Aliaksei Arlou, Andrei Ramanovich, Uladzislav Savitski, Tatsiana Pytsko, Vital Charnavusau, Andrei Prymaka, Alesia Shapkina, Dzmitry Shauchenka, Uladzimir Tychynski, and Yauhen Parkhomenka;

• immediately release all political prisoners and stop political repression against the population.

Viasna Human Rights Center;

Belarusian Helsinki Committee;

Legal Initiative;

Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House;

Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;

Human Constanta;

Lawtrend;

Belarusian PEN;

Belarusian Association of Journalists.