Search Results for: Lukashenko

The Viasna Human Rights Centre in Belarus reported on Monday that the prison term of Yuras Zyankovich, a Belarusian American lawyer, has been extended by two years, bringing his sentence to a total of 13 and a half years, amid Belarus’ ongoing suppression of political opposition. Zyankovich was detained and arrested in Moscow on April [...]

The Republic of Lithuania formally referred the situation in Belarus to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday, a significant action reflecting its dedication to ensuring accountability for the alleged crimes against humanity perpetrated by the authoritarian regime of President Alexander Lukashenko. The referral, submitted by Minister of Justice Ewelina Dobrowolska, invokes Articles 13(a) and 14 [...]

Teachers from across Belarus have been arrested or summoned for interrogation by the country’s State Security Committee (KGB-RB) for joining an educational project, the local Viasna Human Rights Centre reported on Wednesday. The project, named “Adukavanka,” is aimed at improving the skills of education workers in Belarus. The project offers educators express courses, lesson builders, [...]

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko signed a decree on Wednesday pardoning 30 individuals previously convicted of “protest-related crimes.” Seven women and 23 men were pardoned. According to Prosecutor General Andrei Shved, as quoted by state news outlet Belta, “hese individuals did not commit violent crimes against representatives of the authorities. They were convicted mainly for insult [...]

Mykyta Vorobiov, Senior Editor for Long Form Content at JURIST, is a Ukrainian-born political analyst, journalist, and political science student at Bard College, Berlin. On a sunny Wednesday evening earlier this month, one of the most famous Russian opposition leaders, Ilya Yashin, who was locked in a Russian jail after April 2022 for his anti-war position, [...]

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 30 people convicted of “crimes of the protest variety” Friday. Of those released, 14 were women and 16 were men, all retirement-aged or people who suffer from serious illnesses. According to the statement, the country’s Internal Affairs Ministry, “upon instructions of the head of state,” will supervise the individuals upon [...]

The US, UK, and Canada announced more sanctions against Belarusian individuals and entities Friday, all pointing to human rights abuses in Belarus and its support for Russia in the war against Ukraine. The countries moved for slightly different reasons. First, the US Department of the Treasury announced “action against 19 individuals, 14 entities, and one [...]

The president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko pardoned a German national who was sentenced to death in June, the government’s press service announced on Tuesday. Lukashenko’s statement has now commuted the German’s verdict to a life sentence. Rico Krieger, a German national and a former Red Cross employee, was convicted in June on terrorism and mercenary charges [...]

Mikalai Kazlou, former head of the banned Belarusian opposition United Civic Party, was released from prison on Monday, according to human rights group Viasna. Kazlou previously served 30 months in prison before his release. Kazlou was sentenced to two and a half years in prison over organizing or participating in acts that violated public order [...]

17 political prisoners have been amnestied and pardoned in Belarus, following the signing of the Law On Amnesty in Connection with the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Belarus from Nazi Invaders, the Viasna Human Rights Center (‘Viasna’) said on Friday. The Belarussian president, Aliaksandr Lukashenko, signed the new law on Tuesday. The new law [...]