Persecution that knows no borders: 36 foreigners among political prisoners in Belarus
The Lukashenka regime persecutes not only Belarusians but also citizens of other countries for political reasons. A recent high-profile case of a foreigner is the persecution of German citizen Rico Krieger, who was sentenced to death, and a week later pardoned and released in exchange. At the end of June 2024, the Ukrainian authorities managed to release five political prisoners of their state from Belarusian prisons. On January 26, it became known that Belarus had released Anastasiya Nuhfer, a US citizen who was behind bars in our country, but the details of her persecution are unknown. At the same time, citizens of Ukraine, Japan, Poland, Sweden, the United States, the Russian Federation, Latvia and Lithuania, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan remain imprisoned in Belarus. According to the human rights center Viasna, 36 foreign political prisoners are being held in Belarus behind bars. In total, at least 75 foreigners have experienced political persecution in Belarus after 2020. Viasna reports why foreigners are persecuted in Belarus and recalls some of their stories.
- Illustrative photo by spring96.org
What articles are used to persecute foreigners in our country?
The most common articles of the Criminal Code used to prosecute foreigners are "agent activity" (Article 358-1) and "espionage" (Article 358). Since 2020, at least 23 citizens of other countries have been convicted under these articles in Belarus. Among them is Dmitry Shlethauer, a citizen of the Russian Federation who was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment for "espionage" and "assistance to extremist activities," who was found dead in penal colony No. 15 after the sentencing phase.
- Dmitry Shletgauer
At least 19 foreigners were convicted for participating in protest actions in 2020 under Article 342 of the Criminal Code. Alexander Gejadze, a Russian citizen, is among them. He is the only political prisoner transferred to Russia to serve his term.
At least 35 citizens of other countries were convicted under defamation articles.
Seven foreigners were convicted Under Article 289 of the Criminal Code (acts of terrorism) in Belarus. These are citizens of the Russian Federation Alexey Kulikov, Andrey Nebny, Ukrainians Nikolai Shvets, Siarhei and Pavel Kabarchuk, Ivan Likhalat, and German Rico Krieger.
Belarus also uses the conviction of foreigners in absentia. Thus, on October 4, 2024, Nikolai Shvets was sentenced in absentia to 25 years in a penal colony in the Mačuliščy sabotage case.
A Belarusian with American citizenship is kept behind bars
- Yury Ziankovich in a propaganda film
On January 26, it became known that Belarus had released Anastasiya Nuhfer, a US citizen who was kept behind bars in our country, but the details are unknown.
Lawyer and political scientist Yury Ziankovich has been behind bars since April 2021. He is a Belarusian but holds US citizenship. Yury was sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony and sent to the Babrujsk penal colony to serve his sentence.
13 Ukrainians convicted of "espionage" and "agent activity"
Several citizens of Ukraine were sentenced for participating in protests in 2020 under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (active participation in actions grossly violating public order). Among them are Mikhail Feranets, Raman Huzinski, Iryna Koval, Aksana Lakoza. After serving their sentences, they were deported to third countries.
With the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, pressure on Ukrainians in Belarus has increased. Citizens of Ukraine have been detained in Belarus for "espionage," "agent activity," and "attempted sabotage." They are suspected of collaborating with the Ukrainian special services. Thus, at least 13 citizens of Ukraine were convicted of "agent activity" and "espionage": Siarhei Boika, Liudmila Hancharenka, Michail Staliarchuk, Dzmitry Hudzik, Pavlo Kupriyenko, Andrei Shmai, Natallia Zakharanka, Artsiom Makavei, Siarhei and Pavel Kabarchuk, Nikalai Shvets, Ivan Likhalat, and Viachaslau Barodziy.
On June 28, 2024, there was sudden news about the release of five political prisoners from the Belarusian penal colonies and a pre-trial detention facility. The Ukrainian authorities have secured the release of their citizens. That is how Natallia Zakharanka, Pavlo Kupriyenko, Liudmila Hancharenka, Katsiaryna Brukhanava, as well as Nikolai Shvets, a defendant in the Mačuliščy sabotage case, were released.
At the end of March 2024, Aliaksandr Katovich, a Ukrainian, was sentenced to five years in a penal colony under four articles of the Criminal Code.
Lithuanian citizen sentenced to six years in a penal colony
- Alena Romanauskiene
At the Minsk City Court on June 11, 2023, the head of the marketing service of the Belarus health resort Alena Romanauskiene was sentenced to six years in a penal colony for "agent activity." As reported by the state media, she was accused of "repeatedly transferring information about guests arriving on vacation, including high-ranking Belarusian officials." It is reported that she was allegedly recruited by the Lithuanian special services more than 10 years ago. She is serving her sentence in the Homieĺ women's colony.
Four Latvian citizens are kept behind bars
In October 2023, 57-year-old Latvian citizen Ala Sakalenka was convicted in the Minsk City Court. She was accused of agent activity under Article 358-1 of the Criminal Code. Anastasiya Papko heard the case behind closed doors. Ala was sentenced to imprisonment, but the exact term is unknown.
The "list of extremists" also notes that 45-year-old Latvian citizen Dzmitry Siuko was convicted in Belarus. In 2022, he was convicted in the Court of the Čyhunačny District of Homieĺ under Article 369 of the Criminal Code (insulting a representative of the authorities). The man was prescribed compulsory treatment in a psychiatric hospital with enhanced supervision.
In December 2022, Latvian citizen Dmitryis Mikhailaus was sentenced to four years in a penal colony. In August 2024, Yurys Ganins, a Latvian citizen, was detained.
The alleged founder of a charity foundation is awaiting trial behind bars
Allan Royo, an Estonian citizen, has been behind bars since January 2024. On January 16 last year, the KGB decided to recognize the Fund of Belarus Friend LTD as an "extremist group." The agency's decision identified people allegedly involved in the foundation, including Estonian Allan Royo.
Russians sentenced to long terms
- Sofia Sapieha on trial
One of the most high-profile cases of persecution of a Russian citizen was the case of Sofia Sapega, who was detained with Raman Pratasevich as a result of Ryanair landing in 2021. She was sentenced to six years in prison for administering the Black Book of Belarus project. June 7, 2023, Sofia was released by pardon.
In the Tsikhanouski case, Dzmitry Papou, a Russian citizen, was sentenced to 16 years in a penal colony. He was accused of moderating the social media pages of the Country for Life and convicted under four articles of the Criminal Code. In October 2022, it became known that the political prisoner had been transferred to a prison security level.
The first citizen of a foreign state convicted for an "act of terrorism" was Andrei Padniabenny. 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.
Andrei Novikau, a citizen of the Russian Federation, was also convicted in the Tsikhanouski case. He served his sentence in full and was released on October 31, 2022. The man was immediately deported to Russia and handed over to the FSB.
In Minsk, 20-year-old Russian Yegor Dudnikov was sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony. The man was detained for voicing videos and audio messages on the OGSB Telegram channel. After his detention, he was tortured. In the summer of 2022, he was transferred from the Babrujsk colony to the prison security level.
- Yegor Dudnikov on trial. Photo by Belta
Maksim Matyrka, a Russian citizen sentenced to nine years in a penal colony and beaten during the August protests, is being held in the Vaŭkavysk penal colony.
On April 11, 2024, Russian citizen Aliaksei Kulikou was sentenced to 23 years in a penal colony in connection with the case of preparing sabotage in Hrodna. According to the KGB, Aliaksei photographed objects in Hrodna for the "Ukrainian special services". Kulikou was charged under Part 2 of Article 289 (act of terrorism) and Part 2 of Article 126 (act of international terrorism) of the Criminal Code. Kulikou said his last words in Ukrainian.
In 2022, 59-year-old Siarhei Botvich was convicted of "espionage" (Article 358 of the Criminal Code) and "agent activity" (Article 358-1 of the Criminal Code).
In June 2024, an employee of a dental clinic and a Russian citizen Eduard Kashetsian was sentenced to six years in a penal colony. He was detained in September 2023 for a chat where he and his friends discussed various events.
Four Polish citizens are kept behind bars in Belarus
At the moment, human rights activists are aware of three Polish citizens convicted under political articles, and another is in custody.
Since July 2022, Raman Haluza, a native of Žabinka with Polish citizenship, has been held behind bars.
In the spring of 2023, Yezhy Zhyvaleuski, a Polish citizen, was sentenced to four years in a penal colony for "agent activity." Yezhy is serving time in Viciebsk penal colony No. 3.
- Yezhy Zhyvaleuski in a state propaganda film
In April 2023, Robert Tampala, a 54-year-old Polish citizen born in Minsk, was sentenced to three years in a penal colony under Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code (insulting Lukashenka) and Article 369 of the Criminal Code (insulting government officials). The man is serving his sentence in Navapolack penal colony No. 1.
In the summer of 2023, the Brest Regional Court heard the case of Tomash Biaroza, who was accused under Part 1 of Article 358-1 of the Criminal Code (agent activity) and Article 358 (espionage). He was sentenced to 14 years in a penal colony.
Japanese citizens
Two Japanese citizens are currently behind bars for political reasons. They were detained for filming the railway and accused of "agent activity." There is not enough information about the circumstances of their persecution. According to state television, Nakanishi Masatoshi was detained back in July 2024, but the details of his persecution were revealed only in September. It was alleged that the man "collected and transmitted military intelligence information to the Japanese special services." The Japanese citizen faces up to 7 years in a penal colony.
The name of the second Japanese detainee is still unknown.
A Belarusian woman with Swedish citizenship
68-year-old Halina Krasnianskaya was detained in Belarus upon her return from Sweden. She was convicted under Part 2 of Article 361-3 of the Criminal Code (financing participation in military operations on the territory of a foreign state) for donations to Belarusian military formations fighting on the side of Ukraine against Russian aggression.
It is known that Halina lived in Sweden for a long time. She was one of the founders of the official community of the Belarusian diaspora and actively participated in its life. The woman has Swedish citizenship. At the same time, she returned to Belarus to her relatives now and then. During one of these visits, probably in the spring of 2023, she was detained in Minsk.
On January 12, 2024, the Minsk City Court sentenced Krasnianskaya to five years of imprisonment.
Armenian citizen sentenced to two years in a penal colony
In August 2024, Yarvand Martirasian, a 50-year-old resident of Viciebsk and an Armenian citizen, was sentenced to two years in a penal colony for "insulting Lukashenka" under Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code.
Uzbek citizens convicted under protest articles
The "list of extremists" includes 62-year-old citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ildar Taukhitau, convicted under Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code (insulting a representative of the authorities). As of August 2023, it was indicated that he was serving his sentence.
Uzbek citizen Viktar Novikau and his wife Volha were convicted of participating in protests in 2022. The Leninski District Court found them guilty under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (active participation in actions grossly violating public order).
A citizen of Kazakhstan convicted of comments
Vital Skudarnau, a resident of Petrykaŭ who holds Kazakh citizenship, is serving time in Navapolack penal colony No. 1. Presumably, he was convicted for his comments. His term is unknown.
