Viasna case is a series of criminal investigations targeting the organization's leaders and regular members for their human rights activities and assistance to people in defending their rights and public interests.
Six Viasna members are currently in prison: chairperson and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, Viasna deputy chairperson and FIDH vice-president Valiantsin Stefanovic, lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich, coordinator of Viasna's network of volunteers Marfa Rabkova, head of Viasna's office in Homieĺ Leanid Sudalenka, and volunteer Andrei Chapiuk. Volunteer Tatsiana Lasitsa was released on September 24, 2022.
The three leaders of Viasna, Ales Bialiatski, Uladzimir Labkovich, and Valiantsin Stefanovic, were accused of "smuggling" (Part 4, Article 228 of the Criminal Code) and "financing group actions that disrupted public order" (Part 2, Article 342 of the Criminal Code). On March 3, 2023, the human rights defenders were sentenced to 10, 9 and 7 years in prison, respectively.
Leanid Sudalenka was sentenced to 3 years in prison, Marfa Rabkova — to 14 years and 9 months, and Andrei Chapiuk — to 5 years and 9 months in prison.
Solidarity rally on the day of sentencing of Viasna human rights defenders, Warsaw
Solidarity rally on the day of sentencing of Viasna human rights defenders, Vilnius
Solidarity rally on the day of sentencing of Viasna human rights defenders, Stockholm
Solidarity rally on the day of sentencing of Viasna human rights defenders,Copenhagen
Solidarity rally on the day of sentencing of Viasna human rights defenders, Tbilisi
Viasna case is a series of criminal investigations targeting the organization's leaders and regular members for their human rights activities and assistance to people in defending their rights and public interests.
6 Viasna members are currently in prison: chairperson Ales Bialiatski, deputy chairperson Valiantsin Stefanovic, lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich, coordinator of Viasna's network of volunteers Marfa Rabkova, head of Viasna's office in Homieĺ Leanid Sudalenka, volunteer Andrei Chapiuk. Volunteer Tatsiana Lasitsa was released from Gomel colony on September, 24, 2022.
Marfa Rabkova was arrested in Minsk on September 17, 2020. Viasna volunteer Andrei Chapiuk was arrested on October 2, 2020.
Leanid Sudalenka and volunteer Maryia Tarasenka were arrested in Homieĺ on January 18, 2021. 72 hours later, Tarasenka was released but remained a suspect in the case. On January 21, Sudalenka's assistant, volunteer in Rečyca, Tatsiana Lasitsa was arrested.
Numerous Viasna members were targeted by police raids on February 16 and July 14 . As a result of a series of raids held across the country, a total of more than 30 activists of Viasna were detained, including their family members and former activists, and more than 50 homes and offices were searched. After that, Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic and Uladzimir Labkovich were remanded in custody and charged in a criminal case. At least seven more people were suspects.
The trial of the Homieĺ human rights activists took place from September 3 to November 3, 2021. The prosecutors called to sentence Leanid Sudalenka and Tatsiana Lasitsa to three years in prison each, and Maryia Tarasenka to two and a half years in prison. As a result, judge Siarhei Salouski sentenced Leanid to 3 years and Tatsiana to 2.5 years in prison. Tarasenka managed to leave the country, and her case is yet to be finalized.
On September 6, 2022 the Minsk Municipal Court announced the sentence of ten political prisoners at once: coordinator of Viasna’s volunteer network Marfa Rabkova was sentenced to 15 years in prison on 10 articles of the criminal code, and volunteer Andrei Chapiuk - to 6 years in prison on 4 articles of the criminal code.
All imprisoned Viasna members were called political prisoners by the country's leading human rights organizations.
The easiest way to support the imprisoned Viasna members is sending a letter or a postcard!
Human rights defenders are often barred from sending or receiving mail, but this cannot stop our solidarity. We encourage you to write an open letter and send it to our email [email protected]. We will then publish it on our website or share it on our social media accounts.
Sending letters is a great way of telling about your human rights work, the inspiration you get from Belarusian human rights activists or expressing words of gratitude.
Upon release, Viasna members will be able to read all your words of support and see that their struggle for human rights was never interrupted, even when they were in prison.
We also urge to write letters and postcards (write online ) and send them directly to the imprisoned human rights defenders.
Organize a rally, march or picket to support Viasna members.
Download and print out our posters with the photos of imprisoned human rights defenders: А4 or А3. You can also print the photos of human rights activists on T-shirts. You can find the designs here.
Come up with and implement other actions demanding the release of the human rights defenders of Viasna.
Stand up for human rights defenders!
Sign the petition for their release and poster and share them on social media with the hashtag #FreeViasna.
Date of birth: September 25, 1962
Date of arrest: July 14, 2021
Charges:
Part 4 of Art. 228
Part 2 of Art. 342
Time spent in prison:
Ales Bialiatski (Алесь Віктаравіч Бяляцкі) - is the founder and chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" and former vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (in 2007-2016).
Over 25 years of activity, Ales Bialiatski has received numerous prizes in the field of human rights: in 2006 - the Swedish Peer Anger Prize, the Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award, the Homo Homini Award (awarded by Václav Havel); in 2011 - Human Rights Defender of the Year Award, Norwegian Writers' Union Award for Freedom of Speech; in 2012 - the U.S. State Department's Award, Lech Wałęsa Award, Petra Kelly Award; in 2013 - PACE's Václav Havel Human Rights Prize; in 2020 - the Right Livelihood Award. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times. Ales is the author of several books.
Ales Bialiatski was arrested on July 14, 2021 as part of a criminal case. His home and the organization's office were searched.
Statement on the status of political prisonerBialiatski faced charge of "tax evasion" (Art. 243 of the Criminal Code).
On September 26, 2022, it became known that the criminal charges of ‘tax evasion’ under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code against Valiantsin Stefanovic, Ales Bialiatski, Uladzimir Labkovich, and other Viasna members were dropped. However, Bialiatski, Labkovich, and Stefanovic were not released from custody as they were charged with ‘smuggling’ by “having illegally moving cash across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union in large amounts by an organized group” under Part 4 Article 228 of the Criminal Code and with ‘the financing of group activities, grossly violating public order’ under Part 2 Article 342 of the Criminal Code. It is known that the state's claims remain for the same amount of money, which appeared in the charges for tax evasion.
On December 10, the International Human Rights Day, in Oslo, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony took place. This year, three nominees received the prestigious award at once: the head of Viasna Ales Bialiatski, the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties and the Russian Memorial human rights group. The human rights defender Ales Bialiatski could not personally receive the award — he has been behind bars under criminal charges for 17 months. That is why his wife Natallia Pinchuk received the award on behalf of Ales Bialiatski.
The Lieninski District Court of Minsk set the trial date in the criminal case against Viasna human rights defenders: chairman and Nobel Peace Prize 2022 laureate Ales Bialiatski, his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign coordinator Uladzimir Labkovich. Zmitser Salauyou, another defendant, has left Belarus and will be tried in absentia.
The trial of Viasna's human rights defenders began on January 5, 2023 and was very fast. In just 19 days, judge Maryna Zapasnik managed to listen to dozens of witnesses, examine 284 (!) volumes of the criminal case, and hear the testimonies of the imprisoned human rights defenders.
Oral arguments took place on February 9 and 10. Prosecutor Aliaksandr Karol requested 12 years in a penal colony for Ales Bialiatski, which was the maximum term for the articles incriminated to the human rights defender.
“Enough is enough, we must stop this civil war”. Ales Bialiatski's last word in court
On March 3, 2023,the verdict in the Viasna case was announced. Ales Bialiatski was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined 5,000 basic units (approx. $69,000). The court also ruled to recover from Bialiatski, Stefanovic, Labkovich and Salauyou a total of 752,438 rubles (almost $297,650), which they allegedly "obtained by criminal means" through "smuggling by an organized group."
The international community strongly criticized the sentencing of the Viasna human rights defenders.
All news about Ales Bialiatski
Support Ales by writing to him:Date of birth: October 14, 1972
Date of arrest: July 14, 2021
Charges:
Part 4 of Art. 228
Part 2 of Art. 342
Time spent in prison:
Valiantsin Stefanovic (Валянцін Канстанцінавіч Стэфановіч) is a member of Viasna's Board and vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). He is a well-known expert and analyst in the field of human rights, advocate of non-discrimination and campaigner against the death penalty. Stefanovic participated in various international conferences and meetings, human rights and election observation missions in OSCE countries.
The security officers searched Stefanovic's home on the morning of July 14, confiscating all electronic devices and taking the human rights activist for interrogation, after which he was remanded in custody.
Statement on the status of political prisoner
Valiantsin Stefanovic faced charges of "tax evasion" (Art. 243 of the Criminal Code).
On September 26, 2022, it became known that the criminal charges of ‘tax evasion’ under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code against Valiantsin Stefanovic, Ales Bialiatski, Uladzimir Labkovich, and other Viasna members were dropped. However, Bialiatski, Labkovich, and Stefanovic were not released from custody as they were charged with ‘smuggling’ by “having illegally moving cash across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union in large amounts by an organized group” under Part 4 Article 228 of the Criminal Code and with ‘the financing of group activities, grossly violating public order’ under Part 2 Article 342 of the Criminal Code. It is known that the state's claims remain for the same amount of money, which appeared in the charges for tax evasion.
The Lieninski District Court of Minsk set the trial date in the criminal case against Viasna human rights defenders: chairman and Nobel Peace Prize 2022 laureate Ales Bialiatski, his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign coordinator Uladzimir Labkovich. Zmitser Salauyou, another defendant, has left Belarus and will be tried in absentia.
The trial of Viasna's human rights defenders began on January 5, 2023 and was very fast. In just 19 days, judge Maryna Zapasnik managed to listen to dozens of witnesses, examine 284 (!) volumes of the criminal case, and hear the testimonies of the imprisoned human rights defenders.
Oral arguments took place on February 9 and 10. Prosecutor Aliaksandr Karol requested 10 years in a penal colony for Valiantsin Stefanovic.
“We have not lived our lives in vain, we have prepared our successors”. Valiantsin Stefanovic's last word in court
On March 3, 2023,the verdict in the Viasna case was announced. Valiantsin Stefanovic was sentenced to 9 years in prison and fined 3,000 basic units (approx. $41,300). The court also ruled to recover from Bialiatski, Stefanovic, Labkovich and Salauyou a total of 752,438 rubles (almost $297,650), which they allegedly "obtained by criminal means" through "smuggling by an organized group."
The international community strongly criticized the sentencing of the Viasna human rights defenders.
All news about Valiantsin Stefanovic
Support Valiantsin by writing to him:Date of birth: September 23, 1966
Date of arrest: January 18, 2021
Charges:
Parts 1 and 2 of Art. 342
Time spent in prison:
Leanid Sudalenka (Леанід Леанідавіч Судаленка) is head of Viasna's office in Homieĺ. He helped people prepare and submit numerous individual complaints to the UN Human Rights Committee in cases against Belarus.
For his human rights work, in 2018, he was awarded the prestigious prize of the French Republic “Freedom-Equality-Brotherhood”. In 2019, he won the National Human Rights Prize in the nomination “Human Rights Defender of the Year”.
Sudalenka was arrested on January 18, 2021. He was then remanded in custody and charged with "organizing actions that grossly violate public order" (Art. 342 of the Criminal Code), "training or other preparation of persons for such actions" and "financing these activities" (Part 2 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code).
Statement on the status of political prisoner
On September 3, 2021, the court of the Centraĺny district of Homieĺ started hearing the criminal charges against Leanid Sudalenka and Viasna volunteers Tatsiana Lasitsa and Maryia Tarasenka. Judge Siarhei Salouski ordered to hold the entire trial behind closed doors.
On November 3, Leanid Sudalenka was sentenced to three years in a medium-security penal colony.
All news about Leanid Sudalenka
Support Leanid by writing to him:Date of birth: October 22, 1978
Date of arrest: July 14, 2021
Charges:
Part 4 of Art. 228
Part 2 of Art. 342
Time spent in prison:
Uladzimir Labkovich (Уладзімір Мікалаевіч Лабковіч) - is a lawyer at Viasna and coordinator of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections".
Labkovich was arrested on July 14, 2021 together with his wife Nina Labkovich. Their apartment was searched. They were interrogated at the Department for Financial Investigations and then at the Investigative Committee.
Statement on the status of political prisoner
Uladzimir Labkovich faced charges of "tax evasion" (Art. 243 of the Criminal Code).
On September 26, 2022, it became known that the criminal charges of ‘tax evasion’ under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code against Valiantsin Stefanovic, Ales Bialiatski, Uladzimir Labkovich, and other Viasna members were dropped. However, Bialiatski, Labkovich, and Stefanovic were not released from custody as they were charged with ‘smuggling’ by “having illegally moving cash across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union in large amounts by an organized group” under Part 4 Article 228 of the Criminal Code and with ‘the financing of group activities, grossly violating public order’ under Part 2 Article 342 of the Criminal Code. It is known that the state's claims remain for the same amount of money, which appeared in the charges for tax evasion.
The Lieninski District Court of Minsk set the trial date in the criminal case against Viasna human rights defenders: chairman and Nobel Peace Prize 2022 laureate Ales Bialiatski, his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign coordinator Uladzimir Labkovich. Zmitser Salauyou, another defendant, has left Belarus and will be tried in absentia.
The trial of Viasna's human rights defenders began on January 5, 2023 and was very fast. In just 19 days, judge Maryna Zapasnik managed to listen to dozens of witnesses, examine 284 (!) volumes of the criminal case, and hear the testimonies of the imprisoned human rights defenders.
Oral arguments took place on February 9 and 10. Prosecutor Aliaksandr Karol requested 9 years in a penal colony for Uladzimir Labkovich.
“All my thoughts are with my family”. Uladzimir Labkovich's last word in court
On March 3, 2023,the verdict in the Viasna case was announced. Uladzimir Labkovich was sentenced to 7 years in prison and fined 3,000 basic units (approx. $41,300). The court also ruled to recover from Bialiatski, Stefanovic, Labkovich and Salauyou a total of 752,438 rubles (almost $297,650), which they allegedly "obtained by criminal means" through "smuggling by an organized group."
The international community strongly criticized the sentencing of the Viasna human rights defenders.
All news about Uladzimir Labkovich
Support Uladzimir by writing to him:Date of birth: November 24, 1978
Date of arrest: January 21, 2021
Charges:
Parts 1 and 2 of Art. 342
Tatsiana Lasitsa (Таццяна Леанідаўна Ласіца) is a human rights activist based in Rečyca, a volunteer of the Homieĺ branch of the Human Rights Center "Viasna".
Lasitsa faced charges under Parts 1 and Part 2 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
On September 3, 2021, the court of the Centraĺny district of Homieĺ started hearing the criminal charges against Leanid Sudalenka and Viasna volunteers Tatsiana Lasitsa and Maryia Tarasenka. Judge Siarhei Salouski ordered to hold the entire trial behind closed doors.
On November 3, Tatsiana Lasitsa was sentenced to 2.5 years in a medium-security penal colony.
On September, 24, 2022, Tatsiana Lasitsa was released from Gomel colony.
Date of birth: May 17, 1996
Date of arrest: October 2, 2020
Charges:
Part 2 of Art. 293
Part 2 of Art. 285
Art. 341
Art. 130
Time spent in prison:
Andrei Chapiuk (Андрэй Сяргеевіч Чапюк) is a volunteer working with Viasna.
Chapiuk was detained on October 2, 2020 in Minsk by GUBAZIK officers.
All his activities were exclusively peaceful and aimed at helping people who suffer for their political views and beliefs.
On October 9, Andrei was charged under Part 2 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code, "participation in riots". On January 28, 2021, the authorities said that Chapiuk was targeted in a new criminal case under Part 2 of Art. 285 of the Criminal Code, "participation in a criminal organization in any other form".
Statement on the status of political prisoner
On April 25 the Minsk City Court began hearings in the trial against Viasna member Marfa Rabkova and volunteer Andrey Chapiuk. Prosecutor Raman Biziuk requested a hearing in a closed session, because “there are materials of extremist nature in the materials of the criminal case”. The judge Siarhei Khrypach granted his petition and decided to close the hearing. All attendees were ordered out of the courtroom.
Andrey Chapiuk is charged under "preparation for mass rioting" (Part 1 of Art. 13 Art. 293 of the Criminal Code), "involvement in a criminal group" (Part 2 of Art. 285 of the same Code), also "incitement to hatred" (Part 1 Art. 130 of the same Code) and "desecration of buildings and damage to property" (Art. 341 of the same Code).
On September 6, 2022, Chapiuk was sentenced — he received six years in a medium-security penal colony and a fine of 16,000 Belarusian rubles (more than $6,300).
On February 28, the Supreme Court considered behind closed doors the appeals of Viasna activists Marfa Rabkova and Andrei Chapiuk. The sentences of them were commuted for three months lesser imprisonment. Thus, the final verdict for Andrei is as follows: 5 years and 9 months of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony and a fine of 16,000 Belarusian rubles (more than $6,300).
The verdict came into force, and Andrei Chapiuk was transported to the colony.
Support Andrei by writing to him:Date of birth: January 6, 1995
Date of arrest: September 17, 2020
Charges:
Part 1, 2 and 3 of Art. 293
Art. 342
Art. 218
Part 2 of Art. 339
Art. 341
Art. 361
Art. 361-1
Part 1 of Art. 285
Art. 130
Art. 295-3
Time spent in prison:
Marfa Rabkova (Марыя Аляксандраўна Рабкова) is a human rights activist and coordinator of Viasna's volunteer service.
Rabkova was detained together with her husband Vadzim Zharomski on the evening of September 17 and taken to the Minsk office of GUBAZIK (Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption). Their apartment was searched, and equipment, personal money and belongings were confiscated.
Statement on the status of political prisoner
Marfa Rabkova was later charged under Part 3 of Art. 293 of the Criminal Code (training or other preparation of persons to participate in riots, or funding such activities).
On February 11, 2021, Rabkova faced new criminal charges of “inciting social hostility to the government by a group of unidentified individuals” (Part 3 of Art. 130) and “involvement in a criminal organization” (Part 2 of Art. 285 of the Criminal Code).
On April 25 the Minsk City Court began hearings in the trial against Viasna member Marfa Rabkova and volunteer Andrey Chapiuk. Prosecutor Raman Biziuk requested a hearing in a closed session, because “there are materials of extremist nature in the materials of the criminal case”. The judge Siarhei Khrypach granted his petition and decided to close the hearing. All attendees were ordered out of the courtroom.
Marfa Rabkova faces charges under ten articles of the Criminal Code, including "organising and financing group actions that grossly violate public order" (Parts 1 and 2 of Art. 342), “inciting social hostility to the government by a group of unidentified individuals” (Art. 130) and “involvement in a criminal organisation” (Part 2 of Art. 285).
On September 6, 2022, Rabkova was sentenced — she received 15 years in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 22,400 Belarusian rubles (more than $8,800).
“Every time we respond to someone else’s pain we bring our Belarus closer”. Marfa Rabkova's last word in court
On February 28, the Supreme Court considered behind closed doors the appeals of Viasna activists Marfa Rabkova and Andrei Chapiuk. The sentences of them were commuted for three months lesser imprisonment. Thus, the final verdict for Martha is as follows: 14 years and 9 months of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony and a fine of 22,400 Belarusian rubles (more than $8,800). In addition, the National State TV and Radio Company of Belarus made a claim on Rabkova and Frantskevich for 2,344 rubles 65 kopecks (approx. $925). The state duty of 117 rubles 23 kopecks (approx. $45) and procedural expenses of 5,168 rubles and 82 kopecks (approx. $2,000) were also charged to Rabkova.
The verdict came into force, and Marfa Rabkova was transported to the colony.
A number of international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Front Line Defenders, and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a partnership of the World Organization Against Torture and FIDH), supported Marfa Rabkova and demanded her immediate release.
Support Marfa by writing to her: