Viasna human rights defenders, Belarus
We are members of the Human Rights Centre Viasna (Viasna), a human rights organisation based in Belarus. We are: Ales Bialiatski, chairperson of Viasna. I was arrested on 14 July 2021 and charged with ‘tax evasion’. The true reason was assisting victims of political repression. If convicted, I may be imprisoned for up to 7 years.
Valiantsin Stefanovich, a member of Viasna Board and International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) vice-president. I was arrested on 14 July 2021 and have been in pre-trial detention since then. I was charged with ‘tax evasion’ and ‘preparing actions that grossly violate public order or active participation in them’. The charges appear to be the government’s reprisal for my many years of human rights work.
Uladzimir Labkovich, a lawyer at Viasna and co-leader of the election observation initiative “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”. I was detained together with my wife on 14 July 2021 after a search in our apartment. I was then remanded in custody to await trial on politically motivated charges of ‘tax evasion’ and ‘preparing actions that grossly violate public order’ or active participation in them’. If found guilty, I may be sentenced to seven years in prison.
Marfa Rabkova, coordinator of Viasna’s network of volunteers. I was arrested on 17 September 2020 and have been in pre-trial detention since then. I am charged with eleven ‘crimes’, including ‘training and preparing people to participate in mass riots’, ‘incitement of racial, national, religious or other social hatred or discord committed by a group’ and ‘membership in a criminal organisation’. I could face up to 20 years in prison.
Andrei Chapiuk, a volunteer of Viasna in Minsk. I was detained on 2 October 2020 and charged with ‘participation in mass disorders’. I could face up to seven years in prison.
Leanid Sudalenka, director of Viasna’s branch in Homieĺ. I was arrested on my way to the office on 18 January 2021. My ‘offence’ is that I provided legal assistance to dozens of Homieĺ region residents detained and charged for their participation in post-election protests. On 3 November 2021, I was sentenced to 3 years in prison. On July 2023, I was released after completing my sentence.
Tatsiana Lasitsa, a volunteer with Viasna’s Homiel branch. I was arrested on 12 January 2021 and charged with ‘organising or participating in group actions that gravely violate public order’. On 3 November 2021, I was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. I was later released on pardon in September 2022.
The Belarusian government is systematically silencing civil society voices. On 16 February 2021, law enforcement officers raided Viasna offices in Minsk, Homieĺ, Mahilioŭ, Viciebsk, Brest and other cities and opened a criminal case into Viasna’s activities.
Belarus features on CIVICUS Watchlist as a state with serious concerns regarding the exercise of civic freedoms.The CIVICUS monitor equally rates Belarus as closed.
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