37 more political prisoners pardoned in Belarus. Who are they? Updated
On September 16, 2024, it became known that 37 more political prisoners convicted under political articles are being released under Lukashenka's new decree. It is reported that among them are six women, as well as senior citizens and people with chronic diseases and disabilities.
It is known that the cases of pardoned political prisoners were examined by the commission of Prosecutor General Andrei Shved, who heads the so-called "return commission". The release of people is timed to coincide with National Unity Day, which is celebrated in Belarus on September 17.
The names of the five released persons became known to Nasha Niva. These are Aliaksandr Fikau, Tatsiana Birulia, Anzhela Sikorskaya, Mikhail Korzun, Katsiaryna Dzhyh.
- Aliaksandr Fikau
Aliaksandr Fikau is a Candidate of Technical Sciences and associate professor. He was convicted under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to initiatives recognized as extremist in the winter of 2023. On June 20, 2023, he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment in a general security penal colony.
- Tatsiana Birulia
Tatsiana Birulia from Salihorsk was detained for distributing protest newspapers. She was tried for inciting racial, national, religious, or other social hatred or hostility committed by a group of persons (Part 3 of Article 130), desecration of buildings and damage to property (Article 341). The defendants in the case were also charged under Part 1 of Article 361 (calls for restrictive measures (sanctions), other actions aimed at harming the national security of the Republic) and Part 1 of Article 361-4 (assistance to extremist activities). The verdict was announced on December 12, 2022: six years of imprisonment in a general security penal colony.
Anzhela Sikorskaya convicted under Article 391 (insulting a judge or a people's assessor), Article 369 (insulting a representative of power), Part 1 of Article 368 (insulting Lukashenka), Part 2 of Article 366 (violence or threat against an official performing official duties or another person performing a public duty). On September 6, 2023, she was sentenced to four years in a general security penal colony.
- Mikhail Korzun
Mikhail Korzun was tried for "inciting social hatred" (Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code). On October 6, 2022, he was sentenced to four years of imprisonment in a general security penal colony.
Katsiaryna Dzhyh was detained for comments on social media. Katsiaryna has four children, one of them is a minor, and the eldest daughter has a disability. Convicted under Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code (calls for restrictive measures (sanctions), other actions aimed at harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus), Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code (slander against Lukashenka), Part 2 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code (insulting Lukashenka) on July 27, 2023. The sentence is 4 years of imprisonment in a general security penal colony.
On the afternoon of September 17, the names of 10 more pardoned political prisoners became known. These are Aliaksandr Yemialyanau, Ihar Barysau, Aliaksandr Pastserniak, Uladzislau Papou, Aliaksandr Zhandorau, Siarhei Matsiukhevich, Yauhen Nareika, Andrei Astratsou, Vital Charnavusau, Zoya Baranava.
- Aliaksandr Yemialyanau
On January 27, 2023, Aliaksandr Yemialyanau was convicted of inciting other social hatred (Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code) and insulting Alexander Lukashenka (Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code) and sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The man was tried for comments on the Internet.
Ihar Barysau was convicted on August 15, 2023 under Article 364 (violence or threat of violence to internal affairs officers), Part 2 of Article 366 (violence or threat of violence against an official), Part 1 of Article 368 (insulting Lukashenka), Article 369 (insulting a government representative) of the Criminal Code and sentenced to imprisonment. His term is unknown.
25-year-old Aliaksandr Pastserniak was detained in Hrodna for allegedly writing a message to the Nexta chatbot in the early days of the war that Belarusian troops were heading to Ukraine. He was convicted under Part 1 of Article 13, Part 1 of Article 293, Part 1 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code on July 21, 2023. Aliaksandra was sentenced to imprisonment (the exact term is unknown).
22-year-old Uladzislau Papou was accused of taking photos and videos of military equipment, military personnel, as well as a military airfield in Babrujsk from February 24 to February 25, 2022. On March 27, 2023, he was convicted under Part 1 of Article 361-4 (assistance to extremist activities) of the Criminal Code and sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a general security penal colony.
- Aliaksandr Zhandorau
Aliaksandr Zhandorau sentenced to imprisonment under Part 2 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement of social hatred committed by an official using his official powers). The case was heard on May 19, 2023. The verdict is unknown.
Siarhei Matsiukhevich is an entrepreneur from Brest, who was convicted of inciting other social hatred (Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code) for allegedly encouraging citizens to use violence against security forces. On November 3, 2022, the verdict was passed: imprisonment for a period of three years in a general security penal colony.
Yauhen Nareika was convicted under three articles of the Criminal Code: Article 366 of the Criminal Code (violence or threat of violence against an official), Article 130 of the Criminal Code (inciting social hatred), and Article 342 of the Criminal Code (group actions grossly violating public order) and sentenced to four years in a medium security penal colony for comments. The verdict was handed down in June 2022.
Andrei Astratsou is a resident of Lida; he was sentenced to five years in a medium security penal colony in a criminal case under four articles of the Criminal Code: Article 366 of the Criminal Code (threat of violence against an official), Article 369 of the Criminal Code (insulting a representative of the authorities), Article 368 of the Criminal Code (insulting Lukashenka), Article 364 of the Criminal Code (threat violence against law enforcement officers). The verdict was handed down on September 7, 2021.
Vital Charnavusau was convicted on December 8, 2022 for donating money to BYSOL under Part 1 of Article 361-2, Part 2 of Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code. The result of the trial was 5 years in a penal colony and a fine of 16 thousand rubles (more than 4,300 euros).
Zoya Baranava is a 66-year-old resident of the Šumilina region. She was convicted under Article 369 and Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code for subscribing to "extremist" information sources, reposts from them, as well as images of white-red-white flags, Chase coat of arms, and caricatures of Lukashenka and Putin from various sources. As her friends say, the woman has always had principles, closely followed political events, and was well versed in history (her father was a school history teacher). On August 30, 2023, she was sentenced to imprisonment, and the exact term is unknown.
On the evening of September 17, the names of 10 more pardoned political prisoners became known: Aliaksandr Rukoits, Aliaksandr Puhach, Dzmitryi Kushalevich, Aleh Zavadski, Aliaksandr Zhuk, Mikalai Amelchanka, Dzmitryi Siniuta, Siarhei Mazol, Vital Sanko, Andrei Ramanovich.
Aliaksandr Rukoits is one of the five participants of a closed chat The Union of the Belarusian National Shield. On November 8, 2022, he was tried under Part 3 of Article 361-1 (creation of an extremist formation in it) and Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement of other social hatred or hostility) and sentenced to three years in a penal colony.
Aliaksandr Puhach was convicted under Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement to hatred), Part 1 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code (violence or threat against an official), Article 369 of the Criminal Code (insulting a representative of the authorities), Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code (insulting Lukashenka) for leaving comments. On January 16, 2023, he was sentenced to three and a half years in a general security penal colony and monetary compensation for moral damage.
On December 13, 2022, Dzmitry Kushelevich from Svislač was sentenced to imprisonment under three articles of the Criminal Code: Article 366 of the Criminal Code (threat of violence against an official), Article 367 of the Criminal Code (defamation of Lukashenka), Article 368 of the Criminal Code (insulting Lukashenka).
46-year-old Aleh Zavadski was accused of publicly insulting Aliaksandr Lukashenka (Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code), as well as inciting other social hatred or hostility (Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code) for publications in a messenger. On March 31, 2023, Zavadski was sentenced to 3.5 years in a general security penal colony.
- Aliaksandr Zhuk
Aliaksandr Zhuk is a defendant in the so-called Round Dance case related to a protest action on September 13, 2020 in Brest. He was found guilty under Article 342 of the Criminal Code for participating in protests and sentenced to 2.5 years of imprisonment on April 5, 2024.
Mikalai Amelchanka was sentenced to imprisonment under Part 1 of Article 130, Part 3 of Article 203-1, Part 1 of Article 361-4, Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code. The verdict was handed down on October 7, 2022.
Dzmitry Siniuta was sentenced to imprisonment under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code (assistance to extremist activities), Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement to racial, national, religious or other social hatred or hostility), Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code (insulting Lukashenka). He was sentenced to imprisonment on September 5, 2023, and the exact term is unknown.
- Siarhei Mazol
On June 23, 2023, Siarhei Mazol was convicted under Part 1 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code to 2.5 years in a penal colony. The basis for the criminal case was that on March 11, 2022, Mazol sent one message to the NEXTA editorial board.
Vital Sanko is a resident of Hrodna. He was detained under Article 361-2 (financing the activities of an extremist formation) and Part 1 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code (assistance to extremist activities). He was sentenced to imprisonment in November 2023. The exact term is unknown.
Andrei Ramanovich was detained for a video he sent to an "extremist " Telegram channel. A criminal case was initiated against Andrei under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code (promotion of extremist activity). He was sentenced to 2.5 years in a penal colony.
- Andrei Tolchyn
Journalist Andrei Tolchyn has been released. Andrey is a creator of city newspaper Homelskiya Vedamastsi, a freelance journalist who collaborated with several independent publications. Tolchyn has been repeatedly detained and tried for his journalistic activities since 2017. On March 21, 2023, he was sentenced to 2.5 years in a penal colony for "slandering Lukashenka" and for "promoting extremist activities."
- Siarhei Mardzilovich
Siarhei Mardzilovich has also been released. He worked as an international transportation manager for TransGlobal. According to the prosecution, Siarhei commented on messages in more than 30 groups and allegedly left 43 thousand comments, and also shared information about his former classmate, a security officer, with the Black Book of Belarus. Siarhei has two children. On July 31, 2023, a trial began against him under a number of articles of the Criminal Code: Part 1 of Article 368 (insulting the president), Article 391 (insulting a judge or a people's assessor), Article 369 (insulting a representative of the authorities). The result of the trial is unknown.
On the evening of September 18, the last names of the released political prisoners became known. These are Dzmitry Lahutsenka, Andrei Ihnatovich, Dzmitry Utouka, Vital Tsydzik, Vital Yurenia, Siarhei Fisiuk, Aliaksandr Baranouski, Iryna Harachkina, Kanstantsin Salamiyuk, Yuliya Labunova.
Dzmitry Lahutenka was sentenced to imprisonment on June 19, 2023 under Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement of other social hatred) and Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code (insulting Lukashenka). The exact term is unknown.
Andrei Ihnatovich from Svetlahorsk was accused of inciting other social hatred (Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code) and of organizing and preparing actions that grossly violated public order (Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code). He was sentenced to two years in a penal colony.
Dzmitry Utouka was sentenced on April 27, 2023 for insulting a representative of the authorities, a judge, and A. Lukashenka under Articles 369, 391, and 368 of the Criminal Code to imprisonment in a penal colony. It is known that he is an orthodontist from Zaslaŭje. He has a hearing disability, and was imprisoned with a hearing aid where the batteries had to be changed. Dzmitry received a disability allowance, but it was not given to him and withheld to pay his fines.
Vital Tsydzik was sentenced to imprisonment on October 25, 2023 (the exact term is unknown). Vital was tried under three articles of the Criminal Code: Article 342 of the Criminal Code (organization and preparation of actions grossly violating public order, or active participation in them), Article 368 of the Criminal Code (insulting Lukashenka), Article 130 of the Criminal Code (inciting other social hatred).
- Vital Yurenia
Vital Yurenia graduated the Belarusian State University Lyceum in 2013; he was convicted on July 11, 2023 under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donating to initiatives recognized as extremist to three years in a penal colony.
Siarhei Fisiuk was sentenced in August 2022 in the Zeltser case under Part 1 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code to three years of imprisonment.
Aliaksandr Baranouski allegedly provided funds to ensure "extremist" activities (Part 1 of Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code); he was also accused of repeatedly financing extremist activities (Part 2 of Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code). On November 22, 2023, he was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of five years in a medium security penal colony.
- Iryna Harachkina
Iryna Harachkina was convicted under Part 3 of Article 295 of the Criminal Code (illegal actions with objects whose damaging effect is based on the use of flammable substances) and Part 1 of Article 405 of the Criminal Code (covering up a serious crime) and sentenced to six years of imprisonment. The trial took place on October 17, 2022.
Kanstantsin Salamiyuk was convicted on February 14, 2024 under Article 368 Part 1 of the Criminal Code (insulting Lukashenka) and sentenced to two years of imprisonment.
- Yuliya Labunova
Yuliya Labunova was detained in a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 339 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism) for performing at the city cemetery, when a group of young people put a portrait of Lukashenka on a grave and uncorked champagne. On May 20, 2022, she was sentenced to three and a half years of imprisonment.
It should be recalled that since the third of July, this is the fourth wave of pardoning political prisoners. Thus, a total of 115 people have been released.
30 more political prisoners pardoned in Belarus
It is reported that among them there are 7 women and 23 men.
More than 20 political prisoners were released on pardon, including Kseniya Lutskina and Vasil Berasneu
Human rights defenders do not publish the names of other released prisoners for their safety.
More than 15 political prisoners were amnestied and pardoned, among them Ryhor Kastusiou
Human rights defenders do not publish the names of other released prisoners for their safety.
