The statement on the recognition of 7 people as political prisoners

Statement by the human rights community of Belarus

January 23, 2024

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:

1. Kseniya Khodyrava is in custody in a pre-trial detention facility under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to protest initiatives declared by the authorities to be extremist formations;

2. Vital Maksimchuk is in custody in a pre-trial detention center under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code on charges of organizing an extremist formation: being an administrator of a protest Telegram chat;

3. Halina Krasnianskaya was convicted under Part 2 of Article 361-3 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing the recruitment, training, other preparation or use of citizens of the Republic of Belarus to participate in an armed formation of one of the warring parties on the territory of a foreign state, in armed conflicts, military operations: for donations to Belarusian military formations fighting on the side of Ukraine against Russian aggression; she was sentenced to five years of imprisonment in a penal colony;

4. Iryna Bandarenka is in custody in a pre-trial detention facility under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to protest initiatives declared by the authorities to be extremist formations;

5. Nadzeya Karankevich is in custody in a pre-trial detention facility under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to protest initiatives declared by the authorities to be extremist formations;

6. Aliaksandr Ziankou is in custody in a pre-trial detention facility under Articles 361-4 of the Criminal Code on charges of joining an extremist formation for cooperating with an entity declared an extremist formation by the authorities;

7. Aliaksandr Boika is in custody in a pre-trial detention facility under Articles 361-4 of the Criminal Code on charges of facilitating extremist activities for sending videos to a protest Telegram group declared by the authorities to be an extremist formation.

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 Kseniya Khodyrava, Vital Maksimchuk, Halina Krasnianskaya, Iryna Bandarenka, Nadzeya Karankevich, Aliaksandr Ziankou, Aliaksandr Boika;

• immediately release all political prisoners and stop political repression.

Human Rights Center Viasna;

Human Constanta;

Legal initiative;

Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;

Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House.