On Thursday, September 16, 13 people were released in Belarus, pardoned by the decree of Alyaksandr Lukashenka. According to the deputy head of his administration, Olga Chupris, these are those who committed “crimes on the Internet” or participated in “riots” and “repented of their deeds.” The possible pardon of persons convicted for participation in protest actions and recognized as political prisoners by human rights activists has been discussed in Belarus for a long time. This issue is supervised by the initiator of the pro-government “Round Table of Democratic Forces” Yuri Voskresensky.
According to the media, some of the convicts and even those who have not yet been sentenced have received proposals from him to write a petition for clemency to Lukashenka. Voskresensky himself had previously suggested that the authorities release about 100 people.
Whom did Lukashenka pardon and who was denied?
As explained in the Lukashenka’s administration, pardon was denied to those who did not begin to write a petition, committed “malicious violations of the regime” in the colony, had previously been convicted; persons against whom the sentence has not yet entered into force, as well as those who have been convicted of corruption or drugs.
As of September 16, according to human rights activists, there are over 670 political prisoners in Belarus. None of the 13 are opposition activists. Most of them were sentenced to various terms of the so-called “chemistry” – restriction of freedom in an open-type correctional institution (OIF).
Among the offenses in which they were found guilty – insult to a government official, outrage at the state flag, broken glass in a bus, “political” inscriptions at bus stops and kiosks, comment in a telegram chat, gross violation of public order.
What do those pardoned in Belarus say?
“The first minutes on the loose – when you don’t have to get up and go to bed on a call, you don’t have to go to the preventive register every hour,” said one of the pardoned, who wished to be unnamed. As for the pardon procedure itself, then, according to him, the petition is submitted through the administration, it is also necessary to have sureties. First, the documents are considered by the supervisory commission at the local executive committee, then they are sent to Minsk.
Victor Kalinovsky
“When the boss called me into the office, everything was just shaking with excitement and joy. Father already knows that I’m returning. But I didn’t tell anyone about the pardon in advance,” said 20-year-old Viktor Kalinovsky to DW. He was sentenced to 2.5 years of restriction of freedom in an open-type correctional institution – for political inscriptions at bus stops and a kiosk.
After filing a petition for clemency, his punishment was changed to “home chemistry” – restriction of freedom without referral to the IUOT. Kalinovsky will soon find a job at his old place of work or will be looking for something new. “During the” chemistry “I worked as a loader and tore off my back, I will be treated for several weeks.
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Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Record for political prisoners in Belarus
Over 600 – such a record number of political prisoners in the history of the country is quoted by the human rights center “Viasna”. Among those who are unfairly imprisoned due to political persecution are presidential campaigners, volunteers of their headquarters, activists, businessmen, bloggers, journalists, IT specialists, workers, students and other protesters.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Victor and Eduard Babariko
A presidential contender, ex-head of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko could become Lukashenka’s strongest rival in the elections. He was detained together with his son Eduard, led his initiative group, which in June 2020 was charged with money laundering, bribery and tax evasion. On July 6, 2021, Viktor Babariko was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Maria Kolesnikova
Musician and art director Maria Kolesnikova headed the election headquarters of Viktor Babariko. Then she became one of the “three graces” who headed the Joint Opposition Headquarters. Member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council. She was kidnapped and brought to the border with Ukraine for expulsion from the country. But she tore up my passport and thwarted this operation. In prison since September 2020. Charged in the case of seizing power.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
To jail – for legal aid
Lawyer of Victor Babariko’s headquarters, member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council Maxim Znak (pictured) and lawyer of Maria Kolesnikova Ilya Salei were detained in September 2020 in the case of public calls to action to the detriment of national security. Ilya Salei was released on bail in April. Maxim became a defendant in a criminal case on the seizure of power. He has been tried behind closed doors with Maria Kolesnikova since August 4.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Sergei Tikhanovsky
The author of the popular YouTube channel “Country for Life” Sergei Tikhanovsky wanted to run for the presidency of the Republic of Belarus, but before the start of the election campaign he was detained, after which his wife Svetlana put forward her candidacy. When he was released after an administrative arrest, he helped collect signatures for her, but in May 2020 he was arrested. In June 2021, the trial began behind closed doors.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Country for Life activists
Within the framework of the “Country for Life” project, Tikhanovsky traveled to the regions of Belarus and gave an opportunity to local residents to tell about their problems. About 30 persons involved in the “Tikhanovsky case” have already been convicted. Together with Tikhanovsky in the dock – opposition politician Nikolai Statkevich, operator of “Country for Life” Artem Sakov, social media moderator Dmitry Popov, bloggers Vladimir Tsyganovich and Igor Losik.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Igor Losik
The founder of the telegram channel “Belarus of the Brain” Igor Losik actively covered the events around the election campaign of the President of Belarus. Detained in June 2020. He was accused of organizing and preparing actions to the detriment of public order. Then – in “preparation for participation in mass riots.” He went on a hunger strike in protest for over 40 days.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Bloggers behind bars
Other bloggers have already been sentenced. Sergei Petrukhin (pictured) and Alexander Kabanov (“People’s Reporter”) received 3 years in prison. Sergei Korshun and Sergei Yaroshevich (“Army with the People”) – 4.5 and 5.5 years old. Vladimir Neronsky (“Slutsk for Life”) – 3 years old, Dmitry Kozlov (“Gray Cat”) – 5 years old, Denis Gutin (“Drivers-97”) – 2.5 years old. Since June, the trial of Nikolai Dedok has been underway. Eduard Palchis remains on guard.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Leaders of the “old” opposition
Pavel Sevyarynets, co-founder of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party (pictured), has been arrested more than once before. In June 2020, he was detained after pickets to collect signatures for the nomination of presidential candidates. Mikalai Statkevich is another well-known opposition figure, presidential candidate in 2010. Detained in May on the way to the pre-election picket of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and is still in custody.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Human rights defenders targeted by the authorities
Human rights defenders were also persecuted by the Belarusian authorities. Employees of the Viasna human rights center are in custody, including its head Ales Bialiatski (pictured) and deputy Valentin Stefanovich. The well-known human rights activist Leonid Sudalenko is accused of financing activities that violate public order. He paid fines to people detained for participating in protests.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Independent media staff
Media manager Andrei Alexandrov (pictured) was detained on suspicion of financing the protests. He paid the protesters’ fines. More than 20 media representatives are now in custody, including the Tut.by portal and the Nasha Niva publication. Employees of the “Press Club” spent 8 months in the pre-trial detention center. On August 19, 2021, four of them were released, two overlying guards.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Katerina Borisevich
Journalists also fell victim to political repression. Katerina Borisevich (Tut.by portal) spent 6 months in prison. In her article, she wrote that there was no alcohol in the blood of Roman Bondarenko, who died after being beaten by Lukashenka’s supporters, contrary to the claims of the authorities. This information was given to her by the doctor of the emergency hospital Artem Sorokin, now also a political prisoner.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Katerina Andreeva and Daria Chultsova
Journalists of the Polish TV channel “Belsat” Katerina Andreeva and Darya Chavtsova great stream during the brutal dispersal of the protesters by the security forces in the Minsk courtyard, known as the “Change Square” – and received two years in prison. They were accused of organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
The PandaDoc case
Of the four employees of the Belarusian office of the IT company PandaDoc, detained in the fall, only product director Viktor Kuvshinov remains in prison on suspicion of embezzlement of funds. Human rights activists are confident that this is how the authorities are putting pressure on the founder of the company, Nikita Mikado. After the elections, he helped security officials who refused to follow criminal orders, suppressing protests, and lost their jobs.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Student activists
Students were expelled or subjected to administrative arrests for protests. And 12 defendants in the “student case”, including Olga Filatchenkova, a traitor to BSUIR, and Alana Gebremariam, a medical university graduate (pictured), were accused of “active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order” and were imprisoned for a term of 2 to 2.5 years.
Political prisoners in Belarus are prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime
Disproportionate response to protesters
Several dozen political prisoners are accused of participating in mass riots or violence against police officers. According to human rights activists, peaceful protests do not pose a threat to national or public security. Certain cases of violence against the police require special qualifications – in the context of self-defense against disproportionate actions of the security forces.