164 Women Behind Bars: What is Known About the Political Persecution of Women in Belarus

Photo: SB

Today, 164 women political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus.

Among them are those convicted for supporting Ukraine in the war – 25; in the "backyard chats case" – 33; for "solidarity with political prisoners" – 16; in the "Hayun case" – 10; in the "Black Book of Belarus case" (ЧКБ) – 6 women.

To this day, five women from the media sphere are held behind bars: Kateryna Bakhvalava, Tina Palynskaya, Palina Pitkevich, Volha Radzivonava, Liudmila Chekina Liudmila.

Also remaining behind bars are two human rights defenders – Nasta Loika and Marfa Rabkova. They were sentenced for their activities to seven years and 14 years and 9 months of imprisonment, respectively.

At least 15 women are held behind bars with serious health problems.

According to "Viasna", at least 1917 women have been convicted in criminal cases since 2020. Of these:

• at least 881 women received sentences in the form of "restriction of freedom at home";
• at least 469 women were sent to penal colonies;
• at least 75 women were sentenced to "restriction of freedom";
• 7 women were sent for compulsory treatment to a psychiatric hospital.

In addition, at least 9400 women have faced administrative persecution – arrests and fines.

Most women sentenced to deprivation of liberty are serving their sentences in women's penal colony No. 4 in Homiel. According to human rights defenders, 125 women political prisoners are held there. Another two women – Alena Lazarchyk and Volha Majorava – are in penal colony No. 24 in Zarechcha, intended for repeat offenders.

Several common articles under which women are prosecuted can be identified. At least 1167 women were convicted for participation in protests (Art. 342 of the Criminal Code), 231 for "insulting a government official" (Art. 369 of the Criminal Code), 198 for "insulting" Lukashenka (Art. 368 of the Criminal Code), 170 for "abetting extremist activity" (Art. 361-4 of the Criminal Code), 148 for "inciting other social hatred" (Art. 130 of the Criminal Code), and 96 women for participation in an "extremist formation".

According to "Viasna", women also featured in a number of high-profile political cases. Among them are cases for supporting Ukraine in the war (71), "Solidarity Raid" (36), "backyard chats case" (35), cases for donations (33), "Hayun case" (22), "Zeltser case" (16), and "Black Book of Belarus case" (12).

Human rights defenders separately highlight vulnerable groups of women who have been subjected to criminal prosecution. Among them:

• 40 mothers of large families;
• 62 women with serious health problems;
• 82 women of retirement age.

At least 29 persecuted women in criminal cases have foreign citizenship.

In addition, 38 women were forcibly expelled from Belarus, and 58 were convicted in absentia.

It is also known that 113 women are included in the so-called "list of terrorists".

The statistics are prepared based on data from the Human Rights Center "Viasna" — some data should be considered a minimum indicator.

• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 6
• 4
• 0