The statement on the recognition of eight people as political prisoners

Statement by the human rights community of Belarus

March 4, 2024

We, the representatives of the Belarusian human rights community, once again emphasize that detention and further deprivation of liberty 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.

Thus, Aliaksandr Sysoyeu was convicted under 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 the 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; he was sentenced to imprisonment in a penal colony;

Andrei Burak was convicted under Part 3 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code on charges of participating in an extremist formation; he was sentenced to five years in a penal colony;

Dzmitry Papkou, Ihar Charnavusau, Uladzimir Kamennau were taken into custody under Articles 361-4 and 361-1 of the Criminal Code on charges of facilitating extremist activities and creating an extremist formation, as well as insulting A. Lukashenka under Articles 368 and 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 the 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, and under Article 342 of the Criminal Code on charges of participating in group actions grossly violating public order;

Dziyana Zavadskaya was taken into custody under 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 and Article 342 of the Criminal Code on charges of participating in group actions grossly violating public order;

Andrei Bremschmidt was taken into custody under Articles 290-1 and 361-2 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing terrorist and extremist activities for donations to protest initiatives;

Vital Krasnou was taken into custody under 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 the 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 and Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing extremist activities.

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 Sysoyeu, Andrei Burak, Dzmitry Papkou, Ihar Charnavusau, Uladzimir Kamennau, Dziyana Zavadskaya, Andrei Bremschmidt, Vital Krasnou;

• immediately release all political prisoners and stop political repression.

Human Rights Center Viasna;

Legal Initiative;

Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; 

PEN Belarus;

Belarusian Association of Journalists;

Belarusian Helsinki Committee.