Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski marked his 1,000th day in prison in Belarus amid concerns about his deteriorating health. He has been in solitary confinement for the past half year despite his chronic illnesses. His wife, Natalia Pinchuk, has expressed fears about his worsening condition and the lack of necessary medicines. She has called on the United Nations to take more active steps in helping Bialiatski and other political prisoners in Belarus. Bialiatski, the founder of the Human Rights Center Viasna, was convicted in 2023 and is serving a 10-year sentence on charges related to his human rights activities. Viasna has been labelled as an extremist organization by Belarusian authorities.
The arrests and convictions of Bialiatski and his colleagues are part of a wider crackdown that followed protests over the 2020 election in Belarus, which many viewed as fraudulent. The protests, which were the largest ever in the country, led to the arrest of over 35,000 people and reports of police brutality against protesters. President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994 and is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been accused of human rights abuses and political repression. Bialiatski has been serving his sentence in a prison colony in Gorki, known for its harsh conditions and treatment of inmates. Pinchuk has raised concerns about the prison’s reputation and the treatment of political prisoners like Bialiatski.
A total of 27 Nobel laureates recently published an open letter demanding the release of all political prisoners in Belarus, including Bialiatski, describing the situation in the country as a “humanitarian catastrophe.” The Human Rights Center Viasna estimates that there are nearly 1,400 political prisoners in Belarus currently. The crackdown on opposition activists and dissidents continues, with reports of arrests, convictions, and harsh sentences being handed down. One such case is that of Ivan Sukhamerau, who was convicted and sentenced to 10 years for charges related to his support for Ukraine. Sukhamerau had been in custody since June 2023 and was accused of treason and involvement in a terrorist organization.
In addition to the ongoing crackdown on political prisoners, Belarusian authorities have opened a criminal probe against Bazhena Zholudz, an activist who heads the Belarusian House in Kyiv. The organization helps Belarusians who have fled political repression in their home country. Zholudz’s partner, Vital Shyshou, who previously led Belarusian House, was found dead in a park in Kyiv, and an official investigation is ongoing. The situation in Belarus remains tense, with the government continuing to target opposition activists and dissidents. The international community, including the United Nations and Nobel laureates, has called for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus and an end to the human rights abuses and political repression in the country.
