Statement on the recognition of nine people as political prisoners

Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community

March 3, 2025

In connection with the information about the charges brought, the detention, and the sentencing to prison under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (group actions that grossly violate public order) against Alesia Halitsyna, Andrei Nestsiarovich, Iryna Pazniakevich, Ivan Palevikou, Palina Zyl, Anatol Vasileuski, Aliaksandr Kliutko, Aliaksandr Tarankо, and Liliya Kachan (charged under Articles 342 and 361 for calls to sanctions), we state the following:

The freedom of peaceful assembly is guaranteed by Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This freedom is not subject to any restrictions except those that are established by law and necessary in democratic countries for national and public security, public order, the health and morals of the population, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

The protests were spontaneous, self-organized, and were triggered by a lack of trust in the results of the Presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus held on August 9, 2020. These elections were fraught with numerous violations and falsifications and were not recognized by the international community as democratic, fair, or free. The gatherings were peaceful and did not pose a threat to national or public security. Despite this, the demonstrators were attacked by special units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with disproportionate use of physical force, special equipment, and weapons. For the first time in Belarus's history, rubber bullets and water cannons were used against peaceful demonstrators. A particularly large number of injuries were caused by the use of sound grenades.

In its statement on August 10, 2020, the Belarusian human rights community condemned the actions of law enforcement and placed full responsibility for the events of August 9 and 10 on the authorities of the Republic of Belarus. Subsequent protests were peaceful, and the gatherings and their participants should have been protected by the law.

We view the persecution of the individuals named above, who have been deprived of their freedom and are accused of group actions that grossly violate public order (some also facing defamation charges), as politically motivated prosecution related to their exercise of the freedom of peaceful assembly and expression regarding the declared results of the Presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus. We recognize them as political prisoners.

In this regard, we demand from the authorities of Belarus:

• immediately release Alesia Halitsyna, Andrei Nestsiarovich, Iryna Pazniakevich, Ivan Palevikou, Palina Zyl, Anatol Vasileuski, Aliaksandr Kliutko, Aliaksandr Tarankо, Liliya Kachan, and stop their criminal prosecution;
• immediately release all political prisoners, as well as citizens detained in connection with the exercise of the freedom of peaceful assembly during the post-election period, and stop political repression against the citizens of the country.

Viasna Human Rights Center;
Belarusian Helsinki Committee;
Legal Initiative;
Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House;
Lawtrend;
Human Constanta;
Belarus PEN;
Respect-Protect-Fulfill;
Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.