Statement of the human rights community on the recognition of 14 new political prisoners

Statement by the human rights community of Belarus

October 17, 2023

We, the representatives of the Belarusian human rights community, once again emphasize that deprivation of liberty and criminal responsibility for various protest activities are used by authorities to suppress social and political activity, dissent, and anti-war demonstrations.

In 2021, criminal legislation was significantly tightened and supplemented with new types of crimes used by authorities exclusively for political repression.

Out-of-court, the Interior Ministry and the KGB arbitrarily recognize as extremist citizens' groups brought together by public or political interests that criticize the actions of the authorities and demand reforms in the state and its policies. Several media resources were recognized as extremist formations as well. This in turn paves the way for the arbitrary prosecution and imprisonment of their members and respondents as a disproportionate measure restricting the right to association and freedom of expression. For instance:

Yauhen Hormash has been placed in custody under Part 1 of Articles 342, 368, Part 3 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code on charges of organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order, or actively participating in them, insulting A. Lukashenka, joining an extremist formation;

Natallia Malets has been taken into custody on charges under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to initiatives recognized as extremist;

Dzmitryi Selvestruk has been taken into custody on charges under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to initiatives recognized as extremist;

Dzmitryi Svichkarou has been taken into custody on charges under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to initiatives recognized as extremist;

Siarhei Mazol has been sentenced to imprisonment in a correctional colony under Part 1 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code on charges of facilitating extremist activities;

Alesia Liantsevich has been sentenced to up to 3 years and 6 months of imprisonment in a correctional colony under Articles 368, 369, 361-2 of the Criminal Code on charges of insulting an official, A. Lukashenka, for donations to initiatives recognized as extremist;

Aliaksandr Koval has been sentenced to up to 2 years and 6 months of imprisonment in a correctional colony under Part 1 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code on charges of facilitating extremist activities for sending videos to a protest information resource;

Katsiaryna Brukhanava has been sentenced to up to 2 years and 6 months of imprisonment in a correctional colony under Part 1 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code on charges of facilitating extremist activities;

Natallia Sharametava has been sentenced to imprisonment in a correctional colony under Part 1 of Article 342, Part 1 and 2 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code on charges of organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order, or actively participating in them, facilitating extremist activities;

Ihar Tsiaptseyeu, Viktar Hrynko, Yury Nestsiarenka, Uladzimir Savelyeu, Ihar Tsikach convicted under Part 2 of Article 339, Article 361-2, Part 1 of Article 368, Part 4 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code on charges of hooliganism by a group of persons, insulting A. Lukashenka, financing and facilitating extremist activities for flying the Belarusian national and Ukrainian flags, comments, donations to a subject recognized as extremist, sending a picture to a protest information resource recognized as extremist, to imprisonment in a correctional colony.

We recognize the named individuals as political prisoners in accordance with paragraph 3.1 (a) of the Guidelines on the Definition of “Political Prisoner”, and demand that the Belarusian authorities:

Immediately release political prisoners Yauhen Hormash, Natallia Malets, Dzmitryi Selvestruk, Dzmitryi Svichkarou, Siarhei Mazal, Alesia Liantsevich, Aliaksandr Koval, Katsiaryna Brukhanava, Natallia Sharametava, Ihar Tsiaptseyeu, Viktar Hrynko, Yury Nestsiarenka, Uladzimir Savelyeu, Ihar Tsikach;

immediately release all political prisoners and stop political repression.

Human Rights Center Viasna;

Human Constanta;

Lawtrend;

Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House;

Belarusian Helsinki Committee.