At least 50 people convicted in the "yard chats case"

Illustrative photo

On October 29, 2024, the KGB recognized the "Order" initiative as an "extremist formation," which includes the yard chats "Zlyya Kohciki" (Evil Claws), "Sukharevo," "Senitsa2.0," "Solidarnost" (Solidarity), "Volnyya Vauki" (Free Wolves), "Navahrudskiya Partyzany" (Novogrudok Partisans), "VILIYA," "Skromnyya Matreshki" (Modest Matryoshkas), "Sasedzi" (Neighbors).

According to human rights defenders, at least 50 people have been convicted in Belarus in the "yard chats case," 39 of whom are women. "Viasna" knows that 46 political prisoners in the case were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from two to 10 years in a penal colony. 26 people were pardoned. At least 21 political prisoners remain behind bars.

One of the women involved in this case told "Viasna" some details. Veronika knew Iryna Yakaŭleva and Anzhela Aharok, who were sentenced on March 19 to eight and a half years in a penal colony:

"We were with them in the same women's chat. Since 2022, we periodically gathered for joint girls' events."

The woman was detained during a raid in the autumn of 2024. She was charged under Article 357 of the Criminal Code (conspiracy to seize power), but managed to avoid arrest:

"On October 31, the women who are now convicted were taken away. And then the KGB came to me. They immediately told me to tell everything as it was, because Iryna and Anzhela 'would go away for a long time anyway.' That's when I realized they had been made organizers. The officers specifically asked about the women's chat: what we did in the chat, what activity we had, where we went, and what we did. They asked about every woman in the chat. I said that we really did meet sometimes to go to a museum, on a trip, swim together, for example. There was nothing criminal. This is all so far from 'seizing power.'"

After the interrogation, she was taken to the police for drawing up an administrative protocol, and she was released in court because she has minor children. Within two days, she left Belarus.

According to the woman, Article 357 of the Criminal Code was initially charged against all women detained in this case. Veronika believes that they might have been bugged for six months or even a year.

"It's very upsetting that they turned this case into a 'conspiracy to seize power.' When I didn't say anything during the interrogation, the young investigator brought a folder containing a transcript of one of the ZOOM conversations that took place in the summer of 2024. As I understood, listening devices were installed somewhere, thanks to which this conversation and others were recorded. Apparently, Iryna and Anzhela had been under surveillance for a long time.

In that conversation, the only one I attended, we discussed horizontal connections and connections with other groups. I even had an argument during that Zoom call, because I said: "What connections and strengthening?! People here need to survive somehow. This won't yield any results, only problems!" It was like looking into water...

During our discussion, one of the women said something like: "That's why nothing works out for us, because we don't know how to build horizontal connections, and even if we win or the government changes, nothing will change for us for that reason." That's why they charged us with Article 357 of the Criminal Code. To this, I told the KGB officers: "Seriously? These women are over 50 — and seizing power?"

• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 1
• 2
• 0