At least 1,600 Belarusians persecuted over antiwar views since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022

February 24, BPN. Belarusian authorities arrested at least 1,575 Belarusians for expressing their antiwar views in a year that has passed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Fifty-six were given prison terms ranging from one to 23 years on criminal charges. Authorities also sentenced 12 people to a total of 191.5 years in prison for acts of sabotage on Belarusian railroads as antiwar groups sought to disrupt the movements of Russian troops and equipment near Ukraine after the Russian assault.

At least 31 people are serving prison terms for sharing pictures of Russian military equipment with independent media outlets. Eight individuals were found guilty of intentions to fight Russia in Ukraine, and three face similar charges.

The largest antiwar rallies across Belarus took place on February 27 and 28, 2022. Within two days, authorities rounded up over 1,100 people. Belarusians faced persecution for wearing yellow and blue symbols, displaying anti-war slogans and bringing flowers to the Ukrainian Embassy in Minsk.

People arrested at antiwar rallies were severely beaten and tortured in custody, the human rights defenders stressed.

In one of the most telling cases of persecution, a court in Mahiloŭ sentenced Danuta Pieradnia, 20, to a lengthy prison term for sharing a post that criticized Vladimir Putin and Alaksandr Łukašenka for unleashing the war against Ukraine. Later, Belarusian authorities also blacklisted the former student as a person involved in “terrorist activity.”

On February 24, 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Łukašenka admitted that Belarus participated in Russia’s war on Ukraine, but said it was “not killing anyone.”

Authorities in Minsk denied Belarusian army troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Belarus allowed Russian troops and weapons to move freely through the country, use its airspace, refuel and store military equipment and attack Ukraine from its territory.