Why Belarusian judges and penal colony chiefs end up on EU sanctions lists

On December 16, the European Union adopted its 15th sanctions package against the regimes of Russia and Belarus, introducing new sanctions against Belarusian officials, judges, as well as officials in pre-trial detention centers and penal colonies. A total of 26 individuals were sanctioned, including the names of eleven judges involved in politically motivated verdicts and four employees of the penitentiary system. Viasna analyzed the reasons these officials and judges were added to the sanctions lists.

"Responsible for the repression of civil society"

• Vera Filonik – Judge of the Brest Regional Court. She issued sentences against a large number of Belarusian citizens accused of participating in the protests against the Belarusian regime in August 2020. She is therefore responsible for the repression of civil society.
• Iryna Pradun – Chairperson of the Rahačoŭ District Court in Homieĺ Region. She was appointed by Aliaksandr Lukashenka. She issued verdicts against numerous Belarusian citizens who voiced their oppinions against Lukashenka. She also sentenced many people for their alleged participation in protests and for resisting the brutality of Belarusian law enforcement authorities, e.g. in the case of Yauhen Kakhanouski.
• Vital Sinila – Chairman of the Masty District Court in Hrodna Region. He issued sentences against a number of citizens who opposed Lukashenka and the regime's authorities, e.g. Viktar Tsarykevich and Siarhei Burak, for expressing their dissent on social media and offline.
• Vadzim Mazol – Judge of the Pruzhany District Court in Brest Region. He convicted many Belarusian citizens who opposed Lukashenka and the regime’s law enforcement
  authorities, including on social media.
• Nina Shastak – Judge of the Brest Regional Court. She sentenced a number of Belarusian citizens who expressed opposition to the Belarusian regime and considered appeals against sentences of peaceful protesters, confirming those sentences.
• Iryna Maiko – Judge of the Minsk Regional Court. She sentenced individuals who voiced their opinions against Lukashenka and the regime’s authorities, e.g. Raman Yankouski and Mikhail Niamtsou, for their dissent they expressed on social media and offline.
• Vasil Biahun – Judge who has served in the Homieĺ Regional Court since 2003. He issued numerous rulings against opponents of the Belarusian authorities, including sentences against individuals for their activity on social media. He also issued politically motivated prison sentences against Mikita Slepianok (3 years) and Pavel Babchanok (2 years).
• Yauhen Brehan – Judge of the Brest Regional Court. He previously served as a judge of the Maskouski District Court of Brest and Judge of the city of Baranavičy in Brest Region. He issued sentences against a large number of Belarusian citizens, including those accused of participating in protests against the Belarusian regime in August 2020.
• Aliaksandr Mokharau – Judge who has served in the Soviet District Court of Homieĺ since 2021. He sentenced Belarusian citizens who voiced their opinions against Lukashenka, the system, and brutality of Belarusian law enforcement structures.
• Alesia Osipava – Judge who has served in the Central District Court of Homieĺ since 2019. She issued sentences against citizens who voiced their opinions against Lukashenka, the system, and brutality of Belarusian law enforcement structures.
• Viktar Novik – Judge who has served in the Zhabinka District Court since 2017. He was appointed by Aliaksandr Lukashenka. He issued numerous rulings against opponents of the Belarusian authorities, including politically motivated sentences against Vital Ivaniukovich (2 years), Natallia Latsko (1 year), Andrei Ulasau, Yuliya Suvalka (3 years), and Valiantsin Shumik (2 years).

"Involved in inhumane treatment of political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski"

The sanctions lists also include individuals responsible for torture in places of detention and inhuman treatment of those unlawfully detained persons:

• Vadzim Murashka – Head of Penal Colony No. 13, a maximum-security prison where a number of political prisoners are held, including Mikalai Statkevich, Vital Melnik, and Siarhei Verashchahin. Prisoners of Colony No. 13 face inhumane conditions and are subjected to cruel treatment. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations and repression of civil society.
• Siarhei Biareishyk – Deputy Head of Pre-trial Detention Center No. 1 "Valadarka". He is responsible for the inhumane treatment of the detainees, including beatings, overcrowded cells, and lack of proper medical treatment and sanitary equipment. The majority of the detainees are political prisoners, including human rights activist, founder of Viasna Human Rights Center and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, who was detained in "Valadarka" until October 2024.
• Mikalai Mushkarou – Deputy Head of Labour Service in the Pre-trial Detention Center No. 1. He is responsible for the inhumane treatment of the mainly political detainees, including beatings, overcrowding, and lack of proper medical treatment and sanitary equipment. He was involved in the persecution of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.
• Siarhei Petrakovich – Head of Penal Colony No. 9. He is responsible for the inhumane treatment of prisoners, including isolation and beatings. The majority of the inmates are political prisoners, such as Mikalai Dziadok and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.