Political prisoners list updated with 17 new names

Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community

April 5, 2023

The Belarusian human rights community notes an increase in the number of convictions and imprisonments under several defamation and desecration of state symbols articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, and for other actions aimed at the lawful exercise of the freedom of expression.
 
We demand to put an end to the persecution of legitimate expression of views and, reaffirming our repeated calls to decriminalize defamation and to refrain from imposing custodial sentences for insulting officials, the state, government agencies, and symbols (as mentioned in the Joint statement of December 22, 2020), note the following:

We have identified the following persons in custody or imprisoned for ‘insulting’ Mr. Aliaksandr Lukashenka, government officials (police officers), judges, state symbols, and other manifestations of freedom of opinion:

1. Mr. Aliaksei Ilinchyk was convicted in a closed trial of “slandering the president of Belarus” under part 2 of Article 367, “insulting the president” under part 1 of Article 368, and “inciting social hatred” under part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to two and a half years of imprisonment in a penal colony.
2. Mr. Siarhei Tushynski was convicted of “insulting the president” under part 1 of Article 368 and sentenced to 18 months of restricted freedom in an open-type penal facility. He has started serving his term.
3. Mr. Viachaslau Auchuk was convicted of “insulting the president” under part 1 of Article 368 and sentenced to 24 months of restricted freedom in an open-type penal facility. He has started serving his term.
4. Mr. Dzmitryi Anchukou was sentenced to 12 months of restricted freedom in an open-type penal facility under Article 341 of the Criminal Code, “desecrating structures and bringing damage to property”. He has started serving his term.
5. Mr. Vital Ryzhanski was convicted of “slandering the president” under Article 367 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment in a penal colony.
6. Mr. Uladzimir Turnou was convicted of “insulting a government official” under Article 369 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to two and a half years of restricted freedom in an open-type penal facility.
7. Mr. Stanislau Dzmitruk was convicted of “insulting a government official” and sentenced to two and a half years of restricted freedom in an open-type penal facility under Article 369 of the Criminal Code. He has started serving his term.
8. Mr. Dzmitryi Makarkou was convicted of “insulting a government official” and sentenced to 18 months of restricted freedom in an open-type penal facility under Article 369 of the Criminal Code. He has started serving his term.
9. Mr. Siarhei Kushnarou was convicted of “slandering the president of Belarus” under part 1 of Article 367, “insulting the president” under part 1 of Article 368, and “insulting government officials” under Article 188 and Article 369 of the Criminal Code. He was sentenced to three years of imprisonment and a fine.
10. Mr. Dzmitryi Lahun was convicted of “desecrating state symbols” under Article 370 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment in a penal colony for tearing down the state flag.
11. Mr. Pavel Dubau was convicted of “desecrating state symbols” under Article 370 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment in a penal colony for a comment concerning the state flag.
12. Mr. Ihar Shumilau was charged with “insulting the president of Belarus” and detained under Article 368 of the Criminal Code.
13. Mr. Aliaksandr Sharabeika was charged with “insulting the president of Belarus” and detained under Article 368 of the Criminal Code.
14. Mr. Dzmitryi Ivanou was convicted of “insulting a government official” under Article 368 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment in a penal colony.
15. Mr. Aliaksei Azarka was convicted of “insulting a government official” under Article 368 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment in a penal colony.
16. Mr. Dzmitryi Herasimovich was convicted of “desecrating state symbols” under Article 370 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment in a penal colony for tearing down the state flag.
17. Mr. Viachaslau Kobryn was convicted of “insulting the president” under part 1 of Article 368 and “insulting government officials” under Article 369 of the Criminal Code. He was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment in a penal colony and a fine.

We consider the persecution and imprisonment of the persons listed above politically motivated in connection with the peaceful exercise of their views, and the convicts as political prisoners per paragraph 3.1 (a) of the Guidelines on the Definition of Political Prisoners. We, therefore, call on the Belarusian authorities to:

1. Immediately release the political prisoners Mr. Aliaksei Ilinchyk, Mr. Siarhei Tushynski, Mr. Viachaslau Auchuk, Mr. Dzmitryi Anchukou, Mr. Vital Ryzhanski, Mr. Uladzimir Turnou, Mr. Stanislau Dzmitruk, Mr. Dzmitryi Makarkou, Mr. Siarhei Kushnarou, Mr. Dzmitryi Lahun, Mr. Pavel Dubau, Mr. Ihar Shumilau, Mr. Aliaksandr Sharabeika, Mr. Dzmitryi Ivanou, Mr. Aliaksei Azarka, Mr. Dzmitryi Herasimovich, and Mr. Viachaslau Kobryn and stop criminal prosecution against them.
2. Decriminalize defamation offenses and abolish the articles of the Criminal Code that institute liability for insulting the state and state symbols, namely Articles 188, 189, 361, 367, 368, 369-369, 1, 370, and 391 of the Criminal Code, and drop all ongoing criminal cases under these articles.
3. Immediately release all political prisoners and stop political repression.

Human Rights Center Viasna

PEN Belarus

Legal Initiative

Lawtrend

Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Belarusian Association of Journalists

Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House

Belarusian Helsinki Committee