The statement on the recognition of 6 people as political prisoners

Statement by the human rights community of Belarus

December 21, 2023

We, representatives of the human rights community of Belarus, once again note that politically motivated criminal prosecution is used by the authorities to suppress public and political activity, dissent, and anti-war protests.

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. We are aware of the conviction of:

1. Aliaksandr Baranouski under Articles 361-2, 361-3 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing extremist activities and financing participation in an armed formation or armed conflict on the territory of a foreign state, for donations to protest resources declared by the authorities to be extremist formations, and to a Belarusian formation fighting for the independence of Ukraine; he was sentenced to five years of imprisonment in a correctional colony;

2. Aliaksandr Hancharou under Article 361-3 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing participation in an armed formation or armed conflict on the territory of a foreign state for donations to a Belarusian formation fighting for the independence of Ukraine; he was sentenced to five years of imprisonment in a correctional colony;

3. Cheslau Kananovich under Article 361-3 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing participation in an armed formation or armed conflict on the territory of a foreign state, for donations to a Belarusian formation fighting for the independence of Ukraine; he was sentenced to five years of imprisonment in a correctional colony;

4. Aliaksandr Pastserniak under Article 361-4, Part 1 of Article 13, Part 1 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code on charges of facilitating extremist formation, and preparing to organize mass riots for comments; he was sentenced to imprisonment in a correctional colony.

We are also aware of the detention of:

       5. Tatsiana Petrukovich under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing extremist activities, for donations to a protest resource;

       6. Heorhii Charavaka under Article 361-3 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing extremist activities, for donations to protest resources declared by the authorities to be extremist formations;

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 Aliaksandr Baranouski, Aliaksandr Hancharou, Aliaksandr Pastserniak, Cheslau Kananovich, Tatsiana Petrukovich, Heorhii Charavaka;

• immediately release all political prisoners and stop political repression.

Human Rights Center Viasna;

Human Constanta;

Legal initiative;

Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House;

Lawtrend;

Belarusian Helsinki Committee;

PEN Belarus.