The statement on the recognition of 9 people as political prisoners

Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community

October 9, 2024

In connection with the information about the charges, detention, and sentencing to imprisonment under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code ("group actions grossly violating public order") against Dzianis Andrashchuk, Hanna Vasiliuk, Raman Parfionau, Mikalai Pratasevich, Artsiom Basalai, Valery Raukouski, Anastasiya Ilnitskaya, Aliaksandr Pratasiuk, Aliaksei Martynau, once again reaffirming the position outlined in the joint statement of the human rights community dated August 10, 2020, we note the following:

• Freedom of peaceful assembly is guaranteed by Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This freedom is not subject to any restrictions other than those established by law and necessary in democratic countries for the purposes of national and public security, public order, public health, and morals, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Protests by citizens were spontaneous, self-organized and were caused by distrust of the results of the August 9, 2020, presidential election, which was held with numerous violations and falsifications and was not recognized by the international community as democratic, fair, and free.

Citizens assembled peacefully and posed no threat to national or public security. However, the demonstrators were attacked by special units of the Interior Ministry with disproportionate use of physical force, special equipment, and weapons.

For the first time in the history of Belarus, rubber bullets and water cannons were used against peaceful demonstrators. A considerable amount of damage was inflicted by the use of stun grenades.

In our statement of August 10, 2020, the Belarusian human rights community condemned the actions of law enforcement agencies and placed all responsibility for what happened on August 9 and 10 on the authorities of Belarus.

A number of individuals have been arrested and detained as part of the authorities crackdown on anti-war protests following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.

We assess the persecution of the above-mentioned individuals who were imprisoned and accused of group actions, grossly violating public order, and riots as politically motivated, as it is related solely to their exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression in the post-election period and recognize them as political prisoners.

We also note that in the midst of a profound human rights crisis, it is unacceptable to use the tools of criminal prosecution to further restrict freedom of expression.

In this regard, we demand that the Belarusian authorities:

• Immediately release Dzianis Andrashchuk, Hanna Vasiliuk, Raman Parfionau, Mikalai Pratasevich, Artsiom Basalai, Valery Raukouski, Anastasiya Ilnitskaya, Aliaksandr Pratasiuk, Aliaksei Martynau and stop their criminal prosecution.

• Immediately release all political prisoners, as well as other individuals detained in connection with their exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly in the post-election period, review politically motivated cases, and stop political repression in the country.

Human Rights Center Viasna

Belarusian PEN;

Legal initiative;

Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.