December: significant increase in cases of politically motivated criminal prosecution
Viasna human rights defenders note that according to preliminary data, at least 188 people were persecuted in December, and 144 in November.
In December, at least 20 political prisoners served their full sentences, and 49 people were pardoned.
What political prisoners served their sentences for and how many of them were imprisoned. Viasna recalls their cases.
Nakanishi Masatoshi, a Japanese political prisoner, is being tried
The Japanese citizen faces up to 7 years in a penal colony.
Employee of the EU delegation in Belarus sentenced to 4 years in a penal colony
Mikalai Khila was found guilty under two articles: Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement of other social hatred or hostility) and Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code (calls for sanctions).
In 2024, 89 "extremist formations" were recognized, including media, a theater troupe, and public organizations.
Viasna reports what was recognized as an "extremist formation" in 2024.
"Millet followed oatmeal." Former political prisoners described the schedule in penal colonies (video)
At least 1,280 political prisoners celebrated the Christmas holidays behind bars. For some, this was the fifth New Year in prison in a row. Former political prisoners living in different parts of the world described the prison schedule.
More than 5,800 convicts: results of administrative prosecution in 2024
Viasna reports in numbers how Belarusians were administratively persecuted in 2024, and also recalls the most repressive judges in Belarus.
Human rights situation in Belarus. December 2024
Repression and state terror continue to characterize the domestic policy of the Lukashenka totalitarian regime. Anyone suspected of disloyalty to the authorities may be targeted.
Elections*2025. Analytical report on the formation of precinct commissions
The expert election* 2025 observation mission was organized by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Viasna Human Rights Center as part of the "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" campaign. The mission collects and analyzes information about the election campaign based on open sources and messages from voters from Belarus.
"Sad holidays": at least 30 families spent New Year's Eve and Christmas behind bars
Over the past few years, this has been the maximum number of families behind bars.
At least 1,721 people convicted in 2024: the results of criminal prosecution
At least 1,721 people were convicted in political criminal cases in Belarus in 2024. Among them, 1,241 are men (72.1%), and 480 (27.9%) are women. Among the total number of convicted persons, there are 21 persons of retirement age: 14 women and 7 men.
The year of persecution and pardoning: figures on political prisoners in Belarus in 2024
Viasna reports in numbers how the situation with political prisoners has changed in 2024.
Death penalty
- Preface by Ales Bialiatski to the book The Death Penalty in Belarus
- Malaysian man believed at risk of execution: Pannir Selvam Pranthaman
- "The existence of the death penalty is always a litmus test of the human rights situation"
- Kurdish dissident sentenced to death in Iran: Verisheh Moradi
- Over the past 10 years, 24 death sentences have been handed down in Belarus. Review of high-profile cases
- Restriction, moratorium, abolition: How Lithuania eliminated the death penalty
- Burkina Faso plans to reinstate death penalty
- Iran: youth arrested at 17 at risk of imminent execution: Mohammad Reza Azizi
- Declaration by the youth ambassadors for the abolition of the death penalty
- Singapore moves further out of step on death penalty
- New arguments in favor of abolishing the death penalty: threats and benefits for the Lukashenka regime
- "Are you ready to give these courts the right to take lives?" A film about the death penalty was showed in Warsaw
- Kurdish woman activist sentenced to death: Pakhshan Azizi (document)
- Woman Rights Defender at Risk of Execution: Sharifeh Mohammadi (document)
- "Australia should strengthen its global advocacy to abolish the death penalty", Human Rights Watch said
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