Belarus Review by iSANS — July 29, 2024 

Belarus Review (2024 edition, issue 29)

A weekly update on the ongoing political crisis in the Republic of Belarus was prepared for you by the International Strategic Action Network for Security (iSANS).

On July 25-27, a military delegation from Egypt led by the Deputy Commander of the Air Defense Forces, visited Belarus. A meeting between the head of the Egyptian military delegation and the Deputy Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Belarus opened the official part of the visit. The program of the foreign delegation’s stay included a visit to the military units of the air defense.

The 49^th Radio-Technical Brigade of the Armed Forces of Belarus held tactical exercises under the direction of the chief of radio-technical troops. The exercise focused on improving the survivability of command posts and personnel, as well as the redeployment of units.

In August-September, Kamenets district (Brest region) will host training camps for conscripts of territorial troops. It is planned to call up about 140 reservists from the reserve.

Before the Olympic Games in Paris kicked off on July 26, France announced on July 21 that it had conducted extensive security screenings of potential Olympic workers, resulting in over 4,000 individuals being barred from participating in the upcoming Paris Games. According to French Interior Minister Gerald Darmain, the government has denied nearly 100 foreign nationals, including individuals from Russia and Belarus, permission to work at the 2024 Paris Olympics, citing security concerns. Darmain said that these individuals, who sought roles as journalists, physiotherapists, and technical staff, were refused entry due to potential espionage risks.

During the period in review, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and the United Transitional Cabinet continued consultations with Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia regarding the recent restrictions against Belarusian-registered vehicles. A meeting with diplomats from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia was held at Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in Vilnius. Chief Adviser to Tsikhanouskaya Franak Viacorka also held consultations in Estonia with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Parliament. Pavel Latushka had a phone conversation with the Foreign Minister of Poland. The democratic forces of Belarus proposed allowing cars with Belarusian license plates to enter the EU provided that the owner is present in the vehicle and the car is not for sale. Previously, Latvia and Estonia banned the entry of Belarusian-registered vehicles, while Lithuania implemented a one-month delayed restriction allowing to enter cars not designated for sale or corporate use as well as cars registered to individuals that have permission to enter the Schengen area (holding a valid visa or any type of residence permit in Lithuania). Ms. Tsikhanouskaya released a statement noting that the new restrictions affect Belarusians rather than the Lukashenka regime. The restrictions do not affect passenger transportation, while Belarusians living in the EU should re-register their cars if they want to keep them.

On July 22, following the entry ban for Belarus-registered cars to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, the vice speaker of the Polish Senate Michal Kaminski in a YouTube stream with Anatol Liabedzka, Advisor of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya for Parliamentary Cooperation and Constitutional Reform, criticized the decision of the neighboring Baltic States to implement the latest EU sanctions in this way by calling it “very immoral”. He believes that the restrictions on entry to the EU for visiting relatives, imposed on “victims of this regime, ordinary Belarusians” are a political mistake and immoral actions by “the European Union or specific countries within this union”. He promised to urge the EU politicians to open the doors for Belarusians instead of isolating them.

On July 23, Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braze in an interview with POLITICO said that the EU member states continue to tolerate the rampant evasion of sanctions against Russia and Belarus, making it harder for front-line states to enforce the measures. Almost a week after the three Baltic States imposed entry bans for Belarusian-registered cars, the Latvian official made a statement to the press, explaining the position she had delivered earlier at the EU Foreign Minister’s meeting in Brussels. Braze said that although the measures are agreed at the European level, putting them into practice is a national responsibility, and involves an estimated 160 agencies. EU member countries that border Russia and Belarus have to deal with huge trade flows from much larger economies like Germany. The politician also admitted the lack of capacities at the state borders for such checks as the number of procedures that must be followed is immense. Braze even suggested to “centralize EU sanctions enforcement” and added that the implementation of the sanctions must be followed everywhere, and respective countries should make sure that the exports comply with restrictions.

On July 25, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhankou ended his visit to North Korea. In a conversation with Reform.news, an iSANS expert expressed an opinion that by intensifying contacts with the DPRK, Lukashenka demonstrates to the West his readiness to raise the stakes. The expert believes that the next step will be Lukashenka’s visit to the DPRK. Despite this, it is unlikely that this will convince anyone of his independence: “Through contacts with Pyongyang, Lukashenka sends a signal to the West that he has not yet reached the maximum level of his toxicity and can cause even more trouble to his neighbors. In his logic, Western politicians should conclude that Lukashenka should be listened to.”

From July 25 to July 27, Aliaksandr Lukashenka was on a working visit to Russia. It was reported that before the start of the official negotiations, Lukashenka met Vladimir Putin in his residence in a monastery on the Island of Valaam on Lake Ladoga in Karelia. The Belarusian state news agency BelTA reported very briefly about the visit stating that after the meeting in the monastery, the two “heads of state” held conversations behind closed doors and that they stayed on the island also on the following day. Reportedly, both dictators focused in their conversations on the international and regional agenda and Belarusian-Russian cooperation. Later, Aliaksandr Lukashenka informed that he and Putin agreed to “remove all outstanding issues (both in the remit of the Security Councils and the government) by the meeting of the Supreme State Council due in autumn this year”.

 On July 22, political prisoner, a well-known politician, and former chair of the Obyedinennaya grazhdanskaya Partiya party (United Civil Party) Mikalai Kazlou was released from custody. He was sentenced in November 2022 to two and a half years of imprisonment for “organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them” due to his participation in peaceful protests in Minsk in 2020. Human rights activists recognized this verdict as politically motivated. Mikalai fully served his sentence; his release was not a result of pardon or amnesty. He was credited with the three months of arrest in another criminal case that he served in early 2022.  The Supreme Court of Belarus liquidated the United Civil Party in August 2023.

Five more female political prisoners were released from Homel women’s colony N 4 – Darya Losik, Tamara Astreika, Sviatlana Lupach, Katsiaryna Madziankova, and Palina Palavinka. According to available information, this happened on July 3. Astreika, Lupach, Madziankova, and Palavinka were convicted of organizing and preparing actions that grossly violated public order, or actively participating in them. Darya Losik was sentenced to two years of imprisonment on January 19, 2023. She was accused of facilitating extremist activities. The basis of the accusation was her interview with the media, which was recognized as an extremist formation. It was dedicated to Darya’s husband Ihar Losik, who is also a political prisoner. In June, a “repentant interview” with Darya was released by Lukashenka’s propagandistic media. On July 2, Aliaksandr Lukashenka announced that several seriously ill political prisoners would be released soon. On July 3, the amnesty law came into force. The provisions of the law do not apply to “political” articles. However, 18 political prisoners were released on July 3. Among them were four women and 14 men, including the former chair of the Byaloruski Narodny Front party (Belarusian Popular Front) Ryhor Kastuseu. Some political prisoners did not agree to the terms of their release and refused to be released.

Special proceedings in the framework of a criminal case were initiated against blogger Anton Matolka on 13 charges: conspiracy or other actions committed with the aim of seizing or retaining state power in an unconstitutional way, organizing mass riots accompanied by violence against a person, pogroms, arson, destruction of property or armed resistance to government representatives, organizing or preparing actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them, in inciting racial, religious or social hostility, in calls for restrictive measures (sanctions), other actions aimed at harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus, violence or threat against an official performing a public duty (in relation to the President of the Republic of Belarus), defamation of the President of the Republic of Belarus, insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus, discrediting the Republic of Belarus, creating an extremist formation or participating in it, in financing extremist activities, in facilitating extremist activities, and in high treason. At least two of these charges carry a sentence of up to 15 years of imprisonment. The Investigative Committee considers the case within the framework of special proceedings, that is, in the absence of the accused. Fearing politically motivated persecution, Matolka left the country in 2020. He was invited to appear at the Office of the Investigative Committee for the Hrodna region to give explanations on the case. In March 2021, the Investigative Committee reported that Anton Matolka was put on the interstate wanted list. In response, Matolka stated that he was “ready to answer for all his actions before the court. In the new Belarus.” In April 2021, the KGB included him in the list of persons “involved in terrorist activities.”

Security forces put pressure on the parents of the employees of the “Zerkalo” (“Mirror”) independent media, a successor to the leading Belarusian news portal TUT.by. In the Telegram channel associated with security forces, a video with the parents of the journalists was published. “My daughter is in Poland. Recruited by some people. Works on the “Mirror” portal. Now I have to sort out all her questions here because she was misled with this job… That’s why I was called to the Investigative Committee… we have very big problems,” says one of the women in the video. The mother of another “Mirror” journalist promises to “have a conversation” with her daughter “about her future life.” Most likely, all the “interviews” were recorded under pressure.

Political prisoner Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk may have been transferred from the Center for Forensic Medical Examination in Navinki last week, her husband Andrei Sharenda wrote on his blog. “The examination ended without even starting. We did not manage to send her food, necessary things and medicines there. We do not know where she is now, and what is her state of health,” he said. Earlier her relatives found out that she was diagnosed with “chronic pancreatitis of moderate severity” from an official response from the administration of the women’s colony N 24 where she served her sentence. It became known on July 11 that Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk was transferred to Minsk for a psychological and psychiatric examination from the Homel pre-trial detention center. She was supposed to be released on May 21, but she was transferred from the colony to the pre-trial detention center and was charged with malicious disobedience to the demands of the colony administration instead. This is her third charge under the same article of the Criminal Code. In 2021, she was sentenced to two years of imprisonment on charges of using violence against policemen and insulting them, as well as insulting Aliaksandr Lukashenka. In April 2022, she received another year of imprisonment for “malicious disobedience to the requirements of the correctional institution administration.” This term was supposed to end on August 6, 2023, but another case was brought against her for “disobedience” and another year of imprisonment was added.

German citizen Rico Krieger, convicted in Belarus on charges of “terrorist act” and “mercenary activity”, did not appeal the death penalty sentence. According to the investigation, Krieger put a bag with explosives on railway tracks in Belarus. According to Lukashenka’s propaganda, he allegedly received instructions from an employee of the Security Service of Ukraine with whom he was connected by a representative of the Kalinouski regiment, which Krieger wanted to join. No one was injured in the explosion, and the damage amounted to just over 500 USD. Nevertheless, Krieger was sentenced to death by a firing squad. As “Viasna” Human Rights Center found out, Krieger was defended in court by lawyer Uladzimir Garbach, who does not specialize in criminal cases. It is not known why Krieger did not appeal the verdict. According to Belarusian propagandists, he pleaded guilty only to charges of espionage activities, while in total, he faced six charges. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s senior adviser, Franak Vyachorka, explained that Krieger is being held as a hostage in exchange: “We see how quickly the Lukashenka Foreign Ministry offered Germany some conditions. Who should he be exchanged for? There are two options — for some concessions from the German side, [like] easing sanctions or [starting] a dialogue with Minsk. Another option is for someone important to Moscow.” Earlier, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said it offered Berlin “concrete solutions on the available options for the development of the situation.” International human rights organizations urge the Belarusian authorities to immediately stop the execution of Rico Krieger regardless of the charges and to fully abide by Belarus’s international human rights obligations, including the right to life, the right to be free from torture and ill-treatment, and the right to due process and a fair trial. The statement was signed by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Belarusian Human Rights House, European Exchange, International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights, Östgruppen, People in Need, Respect-Protect-Fulfill, “Viasna” Human Rights Center, and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).

A criminal case has been opened against Tatsiana Frantskevich, the mother of political prisoner anarchist Aliaksandr Frantskevich. She is accused of participating in an “extremist formation”. Tatsiana Frantskevich was detained when she and her sister Natallia Labatsevich came to the Vaukavysk colony with a parcel for Aliaksandr. A criminal case was opened against Natallia Labatsevich as well. In 2022, Aliaksandr Frantskevich was sentenced to 16 years and nine months of imprisonment in a high-security colony under several charges, including organizing mass riots, and creating an extremist formation or participating in it. In May 2024, another criminal case was opened against him for malicious disobedience to the colony administration. Both Tatsiana Frantskevich and Natallia Labatsevich were recognized as political prisoners by Belarusian human rights organizations on July 26.

Belarusian human rights organizations issued two statements last week on the recognition of two groups of people as political prisoners. On July 24, they included in the list of political prisoners 13 people prosecuted for «incitement of hatred» under Article 130 of the Criminal Code. Ten of them have already been convicted for various terms of imprisonment while three others are in detention awaiting trial. Human rights defenders stress that this article has been selectively and discriminatorily applied by investigators and courts only to protect the state bodies. On July 26, human rights organizations recognized as political prisoners seven more individuals persecuted for participation in or supporting protest activities. Human rights defenders state that deprivation of liberty and criminal prosecution for protest activities are used by authorities to suppress social and political activity, dissent, and anti-war demonstrations. Moreover, arbitrary and out-of-court recognition as extremist by the Interior Ministry and the KGB of citizens’ groups that criticize the actions of the authorities and demand reforms of state policies and resources paves the way for the arbitrary prosecution and imprisonment of their members and supporters as disproportionate measure unlawfully restricting the right to association and freedom of expression.  Authors of the statements demand an immediate release of all political prisoners and an end to political repression.

The authorities have put the journalists of the Bureau project on the wanted list in Belarus and Russia. This means that criminal cases have been initiated against them. The Bureau’s team considers criminal prosecution as a reaction to their investigations and an attempt by the authorities to put pressure on independent journalism. The Bureau is an investigative media about Belarus, founded in 2023. Journalists write about corruption schemes, schemes to circumvent sanctions, and money laundering.

The Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, the Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management, Pavel Latushka, became the winner of this year’s Lech Wałęsa Solidarity Award. The award will be presented at a ceremony on September 18. The prize is awarded by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in recognition of achievements in promoting and supporting democratic values. This year’s decision was made unanimously by the committee chaired by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Wałęsa, which also includes the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Culture of Poland, the Chair of the Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, and the Chair of the Lech Wałęsa Institute Foundation.