Fifteen more political prisoners added to the list

Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community

Minsk, June 9, 2023

In response to the indictment, pre-trial detention and sentencing of:

• Mr. Anastasiya Peryanovich, Mr. Ilya Dubak, Mr. Uladzimir Hanusevich, Mr. Yauhen Tsikhanovich, Mr. Aliaksei Mileuski, Ms. Maryia Kaminskaya, Mr. Aliaksandr Klimashevich, Mr. Andrei Novik, Mr. Viktar Horbach, Mr. Aleh (Volha) Zayats, Mr. Dzmitryi Churyla, Mr. Ilya Akishau, and Ms. Oksana Lakoza under part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (“group actions that grossly violate public order”);
• Mr. Andrei Navaselchan under Articles 342 (“group actions that grossly violate public order”), 368 (“insulting the president of Belarus”), 369 (“insulting a government official”) of the Criminal Code; and
• Mr. Siarhei Ivantsou under Articles 342 (“group actions that grossly violate public order”) and 361-4 (“promoting extremist activities”) of the Criminal Code,
• we reiterate the position set out in the joint statement of the human rights community of August 10, 2020, and want to note the following:

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

The post-election protests were spontaneous and self-organized. They were caused by distrust of the results of the August 9, 2020, presidential election, which was marred by numerous violations and fraud 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. The use of stun grenades inflicted a considerable amount of damage.

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.

We assess the persecution of the individuals mentioned above 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 demand that the Belarusian authorities:

• Immediately release Mr. Anastasiya Peryanovich, Mr. Ilya Dubak, Mr. Uladzimir Hanusevich, Mr. Yauhen Tsikhanovich, Mr. Aliaksei Mileuski, Ms. Maryia Kaminskaya, Mr. Aliaksandr Klimashevich, Mr. Andrei Novik, Mr. Viktar Horbach, Mr. Aleh (Volha) Zayats, Mr. Dzmitryi Churyla, Mr. Ilya Akishau, Ms. Oksana Lakoza, Mr. Andrei Navaselchan, and Mr. Siarhei Ivantsou and stop their criminal prosecution.
• Immediately release all political prisoners and other individuals detained in connection with exercising freedom of peaceful assembly in the post-election period, and stop political repression in the country.

Human Rights Center Viasna

Belarusian Helsinki Committee

Lawtrend

PEN Belarus

Legal Initiative

Human Constanta