In Belarus, authorities conducted raids and property seizures targeting over 200 opposition activists as part of an ongoing crackdown against dissent. President Alexander Lukashenko initiated the clampdown in August 2020 following mass protests against his disputed reelection. More than 35,000 people have been arrested, with thousands subjected to brutality while in custody. Independent news organizations and rights groups have been shut down, and journalists imprisoned. The campaign has resulted in the exodus of around 500,000 people, including key opposition figures, from the country of 9.5 million.
The raids on Tuesday included armed security operatives breaking into apartments of opposition activists, searching and sealing them. Among those targeted was Yana Latushka, the daughter of Pavel Latushka, a former Belarusian culture minister who has become an opposition figure. The Belarusian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case against 257 activists associated with the exiled Coordination Council, accusing them of various charges such as “conspiracy to overthrow the government,” “calling for sanctions” and “forming an extremist group.” Those arrested could face up to 12 years in prison.
Pavel Latushka expressed concerns that the intensification of repression against Belarusians at home and abroad was driven by the regime’s fear of potential mass protests. The authorities’ actions are seen as an attempt to deter Belarusians who oppose the government and its policies. The opposition designated Tuesday as a day to demonstrate solidarity with political prisoners in Belarus. The country’s oldest human rights group, Viasna, reported that there are currently 1,392 political prisoners in Belarus, with new arrests occurring regularly. Last week, the properties of 104 Belarusians living abroad and critical of the government were also raided and seized.
Western officials have called for the release of political prisoners in Belarus and an end to the crackdown. The U.S. Embassy in Belarus stated that all political prisoners in the country must be released, emphasizing that they remain unjustly detained for their beliefs in a free and democratic Belarus. The European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, condemned the regime’s targeting of those who have fled the country, expressing concern over the recent wave of raids and property seizures of political activists conducting pro-freedom activities in exile. The international community continues to urge Belarusian authorities to respect human rights and cease the persecution of dissenting voices.
The opposition’s “day of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners” coincided with the waves of arrests and property seizures across the country. The establishment of the exiled Coordination Council by opposition politicians in 2020 has drawn the ire of the government, leading to criminal cases being opened against its members. The activists, many of whom have left Belarus, are facing serious charges and potential lengthy prison sentences. The ongoing crackdown in Belarus has resulted in a climate of fear and repression, with Lukashenko’s regime seeking to eliminate any political alternatives and silence dissenting voices both domestically and abroad. Despite international condemnation, the authoritarian tactics employed by the Belarusian government show no signs of abating, leaving many to wonder about the future of democracy and human rights in the country.
