The statement on the recognition of 12 people as political prisoners
Statement by the human rights community of Belarus
December 28, 2024
We, the representatives of the Belarusian human rights community, once again emphasize that deprivation of liberty and criminal responsibility for various protest activities are used by authorities to suppress social and political activity, dissent, and anti-war demonstrations.
In 2021, criminal legislation was significantly tightened and supplemented with new types of crimes used by authorities exclusively for political repression.
Out-of-court, the Interior Ministry and the KGB arbitrarily recognize as extremist citizens' groups brought together by public or political interests that criticize the actions of the authorities and demand reforms in the state and its policies. Several media resources were recognized as extremist formations as well. This in turn paves the way for the arbitrary prosecution and imprisonment of their members and respondents as a disproportionate measure restricting the right to association and freedom of expression. Thus, the following have been convicted:
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Cheslau Herasimovich under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to protest initiatives to five years of imprisonment in a penal colony;
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Alena Mokharova under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code on the charge of facilitating extremist activities to imprisonment in a penal colony;
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Uladzimir Sitkovich under Article 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to protest initiatives to five years of imprisonment in a penal colony;
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Artur Memekh under Article 361-4 on the charge of facilitating extremist activities to three years of imprisonment in a penal colony;
Ihar Sidarovich, Aliaksandr Kuksa, Aliaksandr Mazur, Mikhail Halinski, Siarhei Chabotska, Pavel Karaniukhin, Yana Tsaruk, Maryia Batalyonak have been put into custody on charges of committing crimes described in articles 361-1, 361-2, 361-3, and 361-4 of the Criminal Code.
We recognize the named individuals as political prisoners in accordance with paragraph 3.1 (a) of the Guidelines on the Definition of “Political Prisoner”, and demand that the Belarusian authorities:
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immediately release political prisoners Cheslau Herasimovich, Alena Mokharava, Uladzimir Sitkovich, Artur Memekh, Ihar Sidarovich, Aliaksandr Kuksa, Aliaksandr Mazur, Mikhail Halinski, Siarhei Chabotska, Pavel Karaniukhin, Yana Tsaruk, Maryia Batalyonak;
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immediately release all political prisoners and stop political repression.
Human Rights Center Viasna;
Legal Initiative;
Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
Lawtrend.
