Political prisoner list in Belarus expanded by 11 names

Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community

19 April 2024

As representatives of the Belarusian human rights community, we reiterate that authorities use detention and imprisonment to suppress social and political activism, solidarity, dissent, and expressing an anti-war stance.

In 2021, criminal legislation underwent significant tightening and was supplemented with new offenses. These offenses are being used by the authorities for political repression exclusively.

The Interior Ministry and KGB label groups of citizens who are united by public or political interests, criticize the actions of the authorities and demand changes in the state government and its policies as extremist. Some media outlets are also recognized as extremist formations. This paves the way to arbitrary criminalization and imprisonment of participants and contributors thereof, which disproportionately restricts the right to association and freedom of expression.

We are aware of the following convictions:

1. Aliaksandr Verasovich, sentenced under Article 361-2 and Part 2 of Article 361-3 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing extremist activities and financing the participation of Belarusian citizens in hostilities on the territory of a foreign state through donations to anti-regime initiatives and Belarusian volunteers fighting in the Ukrainian army, to six years of imprisonment in a correctional facility;

2. Viktar Sachkouski, sentenced under Part 1 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code on charges of promoting extremist activity to two years of imprisonment in a correctional facility;

3. Aliaksandr Tsiareshchanka, sentenced under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing extremist activities to imprisonment in a correctional facility;

4. Yauhen Filipovich, sentenced under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for financing extremist activities to two years and six months of freedom restriction in an open-type correctional facility, who has recently started serving his sentence;

5. Siarhei Sheleh, convicted under Articles 361-2 and 290-1 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing extremist activity and terrorism to eight years and six months of imprisonment in a correctional facility;

6. Kanstantsin Shestau, convicted under Articles 361-2 and 290-1 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing extremist activities and terrorism to imprisonment in a correctional facility;

7. Fiodar Shvedau, convicted under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing extremist activities to 3 years and 6 months of imprisonment,

as well as of the following individuals put in custody:

8. Siarhei Zabelich, prosecuted under Article 361- 2 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing extremist activities;

9. Darya Khmialnitskaya, prosecuted under Articles 361-3 and 342 of the Criminal Code for financing the participation of Belarusian citizens in military actions on the territory of a foreign state through donations to Belarusian volunteers fighting in the Ukrainian army, as well as organizing actions that seriously violate public order or actively participating in them;

10. Vital Chopik, prosecuted under Part 1 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code on charges of promoting extremist activities;

11. Artur Rolich, prosecuted under Articles 290-1 and 361-2 of the Criminal Code on charges of financing extremist activities and terrorism.

We recognize these individuals as political prisoners under paragraph 3.1(a) of the Guidelines on the Definition of a Political Prisoner. We demand that the Belarusian authorities:

• immediately release political prisoners Viktar Sachkouski, Aliaksandr Tsiareshchanka, Yauhen Filipovich, Siarhei Sheleh, Kanstantsin Shestau, Siarhei Zabelich, Darya Khmialnitskaya, Vital Chopik, Fiodar Shvedau, Artur Rolich;

• immediately release all political prisoners and put an end to the political repression of the country's citizens.

Viasna Human Rights Center;

Belarusian Association of Journalists;

Belarusian Helsinki Committee;

PEN Belarus;

Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House;

Legal Initiative;

Lawtrend.