{"id":169615,"date":"2025-12-25T11:16:40","date_gmt":"2025-12-25T08:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/169615\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"belarus-records-first-conviction-for-fighting-alongside-russia-as-political-prisoner-numbers-remain-high","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/169615\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus records first conviction for fighting alongside Russia as political prisoner numbers remain high"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

December 25, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Belarusian human rights defenders on December 24 documented the first-ever conviction of a Belarusian citizen for joining Russian forces in the war against Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maksim Ziazul\u010dyk was convicted of mercenary activity and high treason, marking the first known sentence of a Belarusian national for fighting alongside Russia since 2014, according to DissidentBY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trial was held behind closed doors and classified, activists said. Ziazul\u010dyk is reportedly being held at Penal Colony No 17 in \u0160k\u0142o\u016d, Mahilo\u016d region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three years ago, Ziazul\u010dyk was reportedly wounded in the leg and captured by Ukrainian forces, which convicted him of mercenary activity and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. Kyiv also suspected him of acting as an agent of the Belarusian Committee for State Security (KGB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, Ukraine handed Ziazul\u010dyk over to Russia, which subsequently transferred him to Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human rights defenders reported that as of December 23, 1,135 political prisoners were being held in Belarus. They included 967 men, 168 women, 28 media workers, three human rights defenders, 21 doctors and 16 lawyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A total of 164 political prisoners were considered at risk: 56 with serious health conditions, seven with disabilities, 26 over the age of 60 and 10 with mental health issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka ordered the release of 342 prisoners\u2014mostly government opponents\u2014this year under agreements with the United States. Since July 2024, a total of 569 prisoners have been released before completing their sentences, according to the Viasna Human Rights Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of those released, 189 were forcibly expelled from the country without being given the option to remain in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viasna described releases conditioned on exile as \u201ca new tool of political pressure\u201d that violates the Belarusian Constitution and international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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