On 9 August 2024, Belarus marks the fourth anniversary of the fraudulent elections that sparked months-long massive pro-democracy protests and subsequently led to an unprecedented crackdown on human rights and civic space. While the world’s attention has shifted to various other severe humanitarian crises, Belarusians are still facing extreme repression, too often unnoticed and unreported by the media. ARTICLE 19 continues to stand firmly with the courageous Belarusians, commending their resilience and fight for freedom.
Four years on from the 2020 fraudulent presidential election, though rarely appearing in the news anymore, massive repression against people in Belarus has never really slowed down. The Lukashenko regime has intensified its violent crackdown on dissent, leading to the near-total ban on civic space and the prevalent suppression of journalists, human rights defenders, and other independent voices. As of 9 August, there are 1391 political prisoners in Belarus. More than 30,000 people have been detained or arrested, and many have been physically assaulted by police. Scores of people have fled the country to survive.
Political prisoners endure abuse and torture and are denied access to hygienic products and essential medication. Lawyers who attempt to represent them either continue to face efforts to disbar them or have severely limited access to their clients, making it almost impossible to extract information about conditions in which prisoners are held. Many political prisoners are held incommunicado without any contact with the outside world. The regime neglects their mental and physical health, which further deteriorates in the inhumane conditions of the penal colonies where they are held. Since the 2020 protests, at least six individuals jailed for defying the Lukashenko regime have died in prison. The authorities are expanding their intimidation tactics to target the loved ones of political prisoners. There have been numerous reports of raids on the homes of family members, intensifying the fear of widespread repression.
The escalation of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has prompted Lukashenko to increasingly use the ‘anti-extremist’ laws that ARTICLE 19 has previously criticised as tools for a targeted and systemic attack aimed at stifling dissent on a large scale. Any activities associated with dissent, such as fundraising, sharing information, and giving critical interviews, can be deemed ‘extremist’ or ‘terrorist’ and thus outlawed by the regime. The regime also bans any anti-war views and support for Ukraine.
Belarus remains entrenched in an information vacuum where only regime-serving propaganda is permitted. Since 2020, the government has labelled numerous independent media outlets, websites, and social media accounts as ‘extremist’, resulting in severe penalties for journalists and their audiences. Those who attempt to provide or consume reliable information face detention, imprisonment, and further intimidation.
‘ARTICLE 19 reiterates its steadfast support for the fight for a free and democratic Belarus,’ said Joanna Szymanska, Acting Head of the Europe Office. ‘Belarusians continue to demand respect for fundamental human rights despite facing an arduous battle that is increasingly overlooked by the media and public opinion amid numerous other global socio-political upheavals.’
ARTICLE 19 will continue to advocate for the unconditional release of all political prisoners and demand respectful treatment of those still incarcerated. We call for a stronger response from the international community to pressure the regime in Minsk to halt its blatant and repeated violations of human rights against the Belarusian people.
Read more about ARTICLE 19’s advocacy work to free political prisoners and support freedom of expression in Belarus.