71 convicted of "terrorism" in Belarus: from women to foreigners
In Belarus, 71 people were convicted of "acts of terrorism" and attempted acts. Anarchist guerillas, defendants in the Autukhovich case, rail guerillas, defendants in the Mačuliščy case, Haidukevich case, Civil Self-Defense Unit of Belarus case, and others were tried under Article 289 of the Criminal Code. German doctor Rico Krieger was sentenced to death under the "terrorist article" among other articles, and then pardoned and released as part of an exchange. Of the 71 convicted for political reasons, there are eight women, seven are foreign citizens, and nine are convicted in absentia. Viasna reports their cases.
- Illustration by spring96.org
"Acts of civil disobedience are equated to terrorism"
Human rights activists noted in their report that although Belarus is not actually under threat from international terrorism, the Belarusian authorities actively declare pro-democratic politicians and civil society activists as terrorists and acts of civil disobedience are equated to terrorism.
"This can be seen in a number of statements by senior officials, as well as in criminal cases of high treason, attempted violent seizure of power, etc."
According to human rights activists, Belarusian political cases — cases of planned and carried out acts of civil disobedience (in most cases of a non-violent nature) — are inflated to a serious threat to the national security of the entire country.
"This positioning is part of a broader strategy where the absence of the threat of international terrorism does not prevent accusations of terrorism against pro-democratic politicians and activists, demonstrating a desire to interpret acts of civil disobedience as a terrorist threat."
Eight convicted women
In total, eight women were convicted under Article 289 of the Criminal Code (act of terrorism). The first long-term sentences were handed down to women in the Hrodna Regional Court on October 17, 2022. Three women were convicted in the Autukhovich case, under Article 289 of the Criminal Code among others: 63-year-old Halina Dzerbysh, 60-year-old Liubou Rezanovich, and 69-year-old Iryna Melkher. According to the prosecution, Mikalai Autukhovich and members of an "organized group" prepared an incendiary mixture based on gasoline and other combustible substances on the night of October 1–2, 2020. After that, an Audi 80 car and a one-story apartment building in Vaŭkavysk belonging to a police officer were doused with this mixture and set on fire. In November 2020, in the Hrodna region, Mikalai Autukhovich and "other members of the criminal organization" made an improvised explosive device based on a TNT stick and an unidentified detonator, after which a Skoda Octavia car belonging to a police officer was blown up in Hrodna.
- Liubou Rezanovich on trial
Liubou Rezanovich was sentenced to 15 years in a penal colony, Iryna Melkher to 17 years, and Halina Dzerbysh to 20 years. All of them are serving time in Homieĺ women's colony No. 4, and all three have serious health problems.
Natalia Matveyeva was sentenced to 14 years in a penal colony in the case of the Civil Self-Defense Units of Belarus under Part 2 of Article 290-4 (participation in the activities of a terrorist organization), Part 1 of Article 13 and Part 2 of Article 289 (preparation for an act of terrorism), and Part 2 of Article 295-3 (illegal actions regarding objects based on the use of flammable substances) of the Criminal Code.
- Civil Self-Defense Unit of Belarus case trial on October 19
On June 21, 2023, three women were convicted in the Haidukevich case in the Minsk City Court. Mother and daughter Volha and 27-year-old Anastasiya Vaitsiakhovich, as well as 31-year-old Volha Piatukh. Recall that in June 2021, Haidukevich stated that his house was planned to be set on fire with three Molotov cocktails. Only the deputy's cat was injured. 18 people were charged in the criminal case. On June 21, Anastasiya and Volha Vaitsiakhovich were sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony, and Volha Piatukh was sentenced to 10 years in a penal colony. Volha's husband and son remain behind bars.
Anastasiya Pilko was sentenced to two years and three months in the Mačuliščy case. She has already served her sentence and has been released. Her husband Aleh Sychou remains behind bars.
Seven convicted foreigners
Seven foreigners were convicted in Belarus under Article 289 of the Criminal Code. Andrei Padniabenny became the first citizen of another state convicted for an "act of terrorism." He has Russian citizenship, but has been living in Belarus since the age of six and has a residence permit. In June 2022, he was sentenced to 15 years in a penal colony under several serious articles of the Criminal Code, including two parts of Article 289 of the Criminal Code.
- Andrei Padniabenny. A photo from social media
Mikalai Shvets, a Ukrainian, is one of the defendants in the Mačuliščy case. He was detained on March 23, 2023, and put in the KGB pre-trial detention center, facing several serious charges. On June 28, 2024, he was released in exchange with Ukraine, and on October 4, he was sentenced in absentia to 25 years in a penal colony.
Aliaksei Kulikou, a citizen of the Russian Federation, was sentenced to 23 years of imprisonment in May 2024 for "preparing sabotage" in Hrodna. Kulikou said his last word in Ukrainian. According to the KGB, Aliaksei photographed objects in Hrodna for the "Ukrainian special services": the military enlistment office of Hrodna and the Hrodna region, military unit 41780, the Auĺs oil depot, the Dzieviatoŭka oil depot, the Consulate General of the Russian Federation. The man was convicted under Part 2 of Article 289 (an act of terrorism), Part 2 of Article 126 (an act of international terrorism), and Article 358-1 (espionage activities) of the Criminal Code.
A father and son from Ukraine, Siarhei and Pavel Kabarchuk, were sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony in the Homieĺ Regional Court on October 23, 2024. After their detention, propagandists called them "terrorists" sent by the SBU to carry out terrorist attacks in Belarus and the Russian Federation.
- Pavel Kabarchuk on trial
One of the most high-profile cases of a foreigner accused of an "act of terrorism" was the case of 30-year-old German citizen Rico Krieger. On June 24, 2024, he was sentenced to death by firing squad. He was charged under six serious articles of the Criminal Code, including "mercenary activities" (Article 133), "espionage activities" (Article 358-1), and "an act of terrorism" (Part 3 of Article 289). After the verdict was announced, events developed rapidly.
- Rico Krieger. Photo: sb.by
On July 30, 2024, it became known that Rico had applied for pardon to Aliaksandr Lukashenka. The latter, in turn, convened a meeting on this issue with "people directly involved in handling the case." On the evening of July 30, propagandists reported that Lukashenka had decided to pardon Krieger. On August 1, he was released in exchange.
Ukrainian Ivan Likhalat was also convicted in Belarus for an "act of terrorism" among other things. Pro-government sources reported that on December 18, 2024, he and two Belarusians were sentenced to terms ranging from 11 to 25 years of imprisonment. The exact dates for each of them were not disclosed. According to the charges, Pukhalski and Likhalat allegedly attempted to blow up a section of the railway in the Talačyn district. This was categorized as an "attempted act of terrorism" under Part 1 of Article 14, Part 3 of Article 289 of the Criminal Code and an "attempt to render unusable railway vehicles" under Part 1 of Article 14, Part 4 of Article 309 of the Criminal Code.
Nothing is known about the fate of the minor Ukrainian Maryia Misiuk after her detention. On April 29, 2024, a propaganda film Children in the Crosshairs. Recruited by the Enemy was released on the state TV channel ONT. It showed the detention of seven teenagers for "cooperation with the Ukrainian special services". Some of them were accused of "an act of terrorism" and "treason against the state".
The film said that six teenagers allegedly united in the Black Nightingales anarchist cell, which "under the leadership of the National Liberation Army of Ukraine" was created by a 16-year-old citizen of Ukraine Maryia Misiuk.
Nine convicted in absentia
Nine people were convicted in special proceedings. These are the people convicted in the Mačuliščy case, the Haidukevich case, the drone attack on a riot police base case, and the case of preparing a terrorist attack on Victory Day. Aliaksandr Azarau, Valer Vodzin, Mikhail Dziomin, Pavel Kulazhenka, Vital Patsekhin, Vadzim Prakopyeu, Ihar Chamiakin, Mikalai Shvets, and Vital Yakutsik received sentences ranging from 15 to 25 years in a penal colony.
The last verdict in absentia was handed down on December 23, 2024, in the Minsk City Court against Pavel Kulazhenka, a volunteer in Ukraine, and Vital Patsekhin, a former serviceman. They were charged under six articles of the Criminal Code, including "an act of terrorism", for a drone attack on a riot police base on the night of September 24–25, 2021. Judge Mikhail Makarevich sentenced them to 24 and 23 years in a medium security penal colony, respectively, as well as a fine of 40,000 rubles (almost 12,000 euros) each. In addition, Patsekhin was stripped of his military rank of "retired captain."
