On Tuesday, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski marked his 1,000th day in prison in Belarus, where he has been held in solitary confinement for the past six months despite chronic illnesses. His wife, Natalia Pinchuk, expressed concerns about his deteriorating health and urged the United Nations to take more active measures to ensure his well-being, as well as that of other political prisoners in Belarus. Bialiatski, who founded the Human Rights Center Viasna, Belarus’ leading human rights group, is serving a 10-year sentence related to his activism and has been denied necessary medications.
The crackdown on individuals providing assistance to political prisoners in Belarus has also intensified, with 12 lawyers recently detained. Bialiatski was convicted in March 2023 along with several colleagues on charges of financing activities that violated public order and smuggling, allegations he has denied. These arrests were part of a broader government crackdown following protests against the disputed 2020 election that extended President Alexander Lukashenko’s rule, prompting widespread condemnation from the opposition and the international community. The protests were the largest in Belarus’ history, leading to the arrest of tens of thousands and allegations of police brutality.
Bialiatski is currently incarcerated in a prison colony in Gorki, known for its harsh conditions and mistreatment of inmates, particularly political prisoners. Pinchuk described the facility as a “conveyor belt for tormenting political prisoners” and expressed concern over the strict control prison officials have imposed on Bialiatski’s correspondence. Last month, 27 Nobel laureates called for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus, including Bialiatski, labeling the situation in the country as a “humanitarian catastrophe.” Viasna, the human rights group founded by Bialiatski, estimates that Belarus currently holds nearly 1,400 political prisoners.
In a separate case on the same day, Belarusian opposition activist Ivan Sukhamerau was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges related to his support for Ukraine. Sukhamerau, who has been in custody since June 2023, was convicted of treason and involvement in a “terrorist organization” for his donations to a Belarusian unit fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. The court also punished 94 Belarusians who opposed Russia’s war in Ukraine, handing down prison sentences ranging from one to 23 years. Additionally, Belarusian authorities opened a criminal probe against Bazhena Zholudz, head of the Kyiv-based Belarusian House, a non-governmental organization that assists Belarusians fleeing political repression at home.
The continued repression of dissent in Belarus, as evidenced by the plight of individuals like Bialiatski, Sukhamerau, and Zholudz, underscores the pervasive human rights abuses in the country. The international community, including Nobel laureates and the United Nations, has called for the release of political prisoners and the cessation of government crackdowns on civil society. Belarus, under Lukashenko’s authoritarian rule since 1994, has faced widespread condemnation for its suppression of dissent and lack of respect for basic freedoms. The plight of political prisoners like Bialiatski highlights the urgent need for greater attention and action to address the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus.
