A "gift" from the regime for Political Prisoner's Day. What is known about mass searches of activists' relatives

Freedom Day celebration in Vilnius in 2025. Illustrative photo. Photo: Yauhen Yerchak SOPA Images LightRocket via Getty Images

"I urge everyone to document such cases"

"Viasna" human rights defender Nastya Vasilchuk said that on the morning of May 21, three men, who introduced themselves as KGB officers, came to her Minsk apartment at her registration address.

"They conducted an inspection of the apartment (perhaps in their papers it was listed as a search, but I don't know for sure). They came because I participated in the Freedom Day celebration in Warsaw this year. They also visited some of my acquaintances because they participated in the action in Vilnius.

Павялічыць

Nastya Vasilchuk

According to human rights defenders, dozens of such "visits" took place yesterday. All the events of yesterday are a clear indicator that repression is not stopping, but increasingly taking on a transnational character.

I urge everyone who has faced similar situations – pressure on relatives, searches at the place of registration, calls and offers of "mutually beneficial cooperation," etc. – to contact human rights defenders and document such cases."

"The investigator said I 'don't want to mend my ways'"

Former political prisoner and "Viasna" human rights defender Uladzimir Labkovich, who was released and expelled from Belarus last December, reported that a search took place within the framework of a new criminal case initiated for his activities after his release.

Павялічыць

Uladz Labkovich

"It is known that the warrant was issued by the General Prosecutor's Office as early as May 8, but it was not used until exactly Political Prisoner's Day in Belarus. This is such a "gift" from the regime.

Naturally, this is a signal to both activists and former political prisoners that hunting and repression continue. It is also an attempt to intimidate civil society through pressure on relatives.

Formally, the searches are related to Freedom Day, which also indicates an attack on national symbols and values. According to unconfirmed information, for some, the searches took place within a case for "discrediting the Republic of Belarus" (Art. 369-1 of the Criminal Code). In my case, they refused to name the article, but the investigator said it was for "new sins" after my release and because I "don't want to mend my ways."

"Parents were summoned for questioning"

Activists Artsiom Basalai, who now lives in Poland, also had a search. According to him, criminal cases have been initiated against him for "extremism," "treason to the homeland," as well as for participating in the Freedom Day action in Warsaw.

Павялічыць

Artsiom Basalai

"KGB officers with witnesses broke into the apartment at my place of registration and into my parents' apartment, where I neither lived nor was registered, with a search. As a result, my parents' property was documented: a refrigerator, a washing machine, etc. In addition, my parents were summoned from Maladziechna to Minsk for questioning in my case."

Artsiom notes that he did indeed participate in Freedom Day in Warsaw, did not hide his face, and published photos from the action on social media.

"The situation around Belarus is already under the attention of the International Criminal Court"

"Viasna" lawyer Sviatlana Halavnyova believes that such cases should be considered as part of the transnational persecution of Belarusians.

Павялічыць

Sviatlana Halavnyova

"Thus, the Belarusian authorities are trying to carry out politically motivated persecution of their citizens outside their territory. Transnational persecution in the case of Belarus includes forced emigration, deportation of its citizens, заочное (in absentia) persecution of those who have left, attempts at recruitment, and pressure through relatives who remained in Belarus.

Such persecution affects not only the problem of freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in Belarus, but also the situation in the countries where Belarusians reside. This makes the problem not only an internal political issue for Belarus but also a factor of security and law and order in the countries where Belarusians currently live.

It should be noted that the situation around Belarus is already under the attention of the International Criminal Court, which has begun an investigation into the "Belarus/Lithuania situation" in connection with possible crimes against humanity, including forced deportation and politically motivated persecution. New cases of persecution should not be considered in isolation, but as part of an already existing process of accountability."

• 0
• 0
• 1
• 0
• 0
• 2
• 7
• 0