The EESC is hosting an online photo exhibition entitled Heroes of Dark Times to highlight the situation of the political prisoners and increase awareness of the dangers of the authoritarian and oppressive system in Belarus.
Alena Talkachova is a TUT.BY Media journalist in the political department. As a journalist she likes to ask tough questions and gets answers. She is a good friend. One of them is now taking care of Talkachova's young cocker spaniel dog in the EU. On May 18, 2021 her media was blocked and destroyed by the authorities. Together with 14 other people working on TUT.BY Media Talkachova was detained, in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale. Picture taken on August 14, 2020 in Minsk, Belarus. Photo: Volha Shukaila
Anastasiya Mirontsava was one of the best students of the last year of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts before the arrest. She sends her paintings to friends by letters and some of them become postcards. Mirontsava was detained on October 16, 2021 with her elder sister Victoryia. On April 1, 2021 Mirontsava was sentenced to 2 years in a general-security penal colony, finding her guilty of “breaching public order” and “using violence against police officers''. Picture taken on March 22, 2021 in Minsk, Belarus. Photo: Volha Shukaila
Maryna Zolatava is a TUT.BY Media editor-in-chief. She likes Balkan music, roller skating and reading. She can balance between long hours of working and taking care of her family. Zolotova has a daughter and son. On May 18, 2021 her media was blocked and destroyed by the authorities. Together with 14 other people working on TUT.BY Media Zolatava was detained, in the framework of a criminal case initiated against TUT.BY for tax evasion on an especially large scale. Picture taken on September 2, 2020 in Minsk, Belarus. Photo: Volha Shukaila
Maksim Viniarski is an activist of the European Belarus opposition group. He has been repeatedly repressed by the authorities, including through fines, short terms in prison, beatings and intimidation. He likes to read. Viniarski studied to be an editor, but due to political activities he was expelled. Viniarski was detained on January 22, 2021. On May 25, 2021 he was sentenced to 5 years in a medium-security penal colony for Criminal article about preparation for participation in mass riots. The trial was held behind closed doors. The picture was taken on August 24, 2020 in Minsk, Belarus. Photo: Volha Shukaila
Hanna Sunhurava is a manager at a furniture company and mother of three children. She participated in the post-election protests and helped other protesters get home after dispersals and detention. She was detained on September 25, 2020. While detained she sent so many paintings, self-made coloring pages and letters to her young daughter. On April 20, 2021 Sunhurava was sentenced to 3 years of restricted freedom by the Criminal Code article about organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order. She was released in the courtroom to await an appeal hearing. She fled from Belarus to the EU. Picture taken on May 3, 2021 in Minsk, Belarus. Photo: Volha Shukaila
Katsiaryna Andreyeva (Bakhvalava) is a Belsat Television journalist. She was born to a family of journalists, historians and philologists. She studied Spanish and for a few years she lived in Spain. Together with camerawoman Daria Chultsova, she became a defendant in a criminal case on organizing actions that grossly violate public order, after a live broadcast from the place of the violent dispersal by the security forces of people who came to honor the memory of the murdered Raman Bandarenka. Andreyeva was detained on November 15, 2020. On February 18, 2021, the court announced a sentence, according to which Andreyeva received 2 years in prison in a general regime colony.Picture taken on February 9, 2021 in Minsk, Belarus. Photo: Volha Shukaila
Daria Chultsova is a Belsat Television camerawoman. During vacation in high school she worked on a construction site for being financially independent. As her mother told, Darya does not tolerate injustice and calls herself a truth-teller. Together with journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva (Bakhvalava), she became a defendant in a criminal case on organizing actions that grossly violate public order, after a live broadcast from the place of the violent dispersal by the security forces of people who came to honor the memory of the murdered Raman Bandarenka. Andreyeva was detained on November 15, 2020. On February 18, 2021, the court announced a sentence, according to which Chultsova received 2 years in prison in a general regime colony.Picture taken on February 9, 2021 in Minsk, Belarus. Photo: Volha Shukaila
Daria Chultsova, Belsat Television camerawoman and Katsiaryna Andreyeva (Bakhvalava), Belsat Television journalist became a defendant in a criminal case on organizing actions that grossly violate public order, after a live broadcast from the place of the violent dispersal by the security forces of people who came to honor the memory of the murdered Raman Bandarenka. Andreyeva was detained on November 15, 2020. On February 18, 2021, the court announced a sentence, according to which women received 2 years in prison in a general regime colony.Picture taken on February 9, 2021 in Minsk, Belarus. Photo: Volha Shukaila
Political prisoner Safiya Malashevich has many hobbies, including drawing, dancing, and reading books. Her mother says that the girl developed quickly from childhood and already at the age of three she learned Pushkin's "Tatyana's letter to Onegin" by heart. She loves animals and has rescued and adopted two homeless cats, which are now waiting for her at home. According to her mother, before her detention Safiya had followed "not an easy way to find herself, she matured early and led an independent life". At the time of her detention the girl was only 17.
Safiya Malashevich was initially detained on 6 September during the March of Unity, after she spray-painted several drawings and slogans on the metal shields installed on riot-control vehicles. She was named a suspect under Part 1 of Article 342 (organisation or participation in group actions that gravely breach public order) and Part 2 of Article 339 (hooliganism committed by a group of persons) of the Criminal Code. Safiya was released on bail, but re-arrested on 30 November. On 22 January Malashevich was sentenced to two years in a general security penal colony. Safiya Malashevich during the court session. 14 January 2021, Minsk, Belarus. Photo by Nadia Buzhan.
Valiantsin Stefanovich is a member of the Viasna Board, vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). In a letter from prison his friends say that even behind bars he lectures on various topics for his cellmates. His wife and two daughters left Belarus. On July 14, 2021 the law enforcers came to his apartment, seized all the equipment. Stefanovich was taken for interrogation. The search warrant listed two articles of the Criminal Code: organizing and participating in actions that grossly disrupt public order tax evasion. He is still detained. Picture taken on February 16. 2021 in Minsk, Belarus. Photo: Volha Shukaila
Maksim Pauliushchyk is a construction worker by profession. He has a passion for music and writes rap music. In his work he talks about his childhood, and raises themes connected with life, his neighborhood, friends, and parents. During the last seven months before his detention, he wrote music only about his wife and future child. Maksim proposed to his girlfriend when he was still free. The couple got married while Maksim was in prison. His wife went through her pregnancy while he was detained. They chose the baby's name in correspondence.
Maksim Pauliushchyk was detained for painting the phrase "We Will Not Forget" on a pavement near the memorial to Aliaksandr Taraikouski, who had been killled during the post-election protests. On December 8, the Frunzienski District Court of Minsk sentenced Maksim Pauliushchyk to two years in prison.
Maksim Pauliushchyk during the trial. 27 November 2020, Minsk, Belarus. Photo by Nadia Buzhan.
Lieutenant-colonel Mikalai Kazlou served in the criminal investigation department of Minsk. In 2008, he exposed falsifications in the parliamentary elections, wrote a report to his superiors and reported the crimes to the media. Later, Kazlou joined The United Civic Party (UCP) and became the leader of the party. He tried to run for the post of president of Belarus in 2020.
Mikalai Kazlou was sentenced to 3 months in prison on 6 August 2021 for disclosing investigation information on the Coordination Council case. On 28 December 2021, Mikalai began serving his sentence.
In December 2020 and January 2021, Mikalai Kazlou was interrogated as a witness in a criminal case initiated by the Prosecutor General's Office against Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and other persons on based on their "deliberate actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of Belarus". During the interrogation, the politician repeatedly refused to sign a pledge of secrecy concerning the investigation details. For this, administrative protocols were drawn up against Mikalai, and an administrative arrest of 15 days was imposed. According to the prosecutor's office, the politician disclosed the investigation details in his media interviews. Mikalai Kazlou pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him.
The photo shows Mikalai posing for a photographer at the party headquarters. 5 March 2020. Photo by Nadia Buzhan.
Hanna Shabeta (Haliota) is a journalist of the Belsat TV channel, host of the anti-fake news show "Lukavye Novosti" ("Sly News").
Shabeta was detained on 16 July 2021 during mass searches targeting independent journalists in Minsk and other Belarusian cities. The journalist's apartment was searched, equipment was confiscated, and then she was placed in a temporary detention centre and not released after 72 hours.
The measure of restraint applied to the journalist was changed and she was released on 23 July 2021. Afterwards she managed to leave the country for her own safety.
30 November2021, Warsaw, Poland. Photo by Nadia Buzhan.
Belarusian Ambassador to Slovakia Ihar Liashchenia was the first high-ranking official to support the protests. He had been in the diplomatic service for 29 years, and at one time was an assistant to the president of Belarus. Ihar Liashchenia tendered his resignation after recording a video message in which he supported the peaceful protests. A week later the diplomat recorded a second appeal - in which he called for an investigation of all known cases of beatings and torture of civilians by security forces. Several other ambassadors followed the example of Liashchenia, one of the country's most experienced diplomats.
On 11 August 2021, Ihar Liashchenia was arrested and placed in a temporary detention center in connection with a criminal case under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (group actions grossly violating public order). Ihar Liashchenia was released on 20 August but remained subject to travel restrictions.
18 December 2020, Minsk, Belarus. Photo by Nadia Buzhan.
Andrei Liubetski is a political prisoner and a famous jaw surgeon in Belarus. His wife is a dentist. After the election, Andrei and his colleagues volunteered near Okrestin. The doctor and his wife were fired from their jobs for making open statements. Andrei's wife Natallia Liubetskaya was forced to leave the country together with her children, after Belarusian state TV channels accused the woman of leaking "secret documents" to ex-police officer Ihar Makar. The Liubetskis have four children. The oldest daughter is 11 years old, the twins (a boy and a girl) are 8, and the youngest daughter is 5.
Andrei Liubetski was detained on 4 May 2021. His apartment was searched and as a detainee was charged under Part 2 of Article 368 (insulting the president) of the Criminal Code. 12 April 2021, Minsk, Belarus. Photo by Nadia Buzhan.
Eduard is the head of the initiative group of presidential candidate Victor Babariko. He is also Victor's son. He managed the crowdfunding platforms Ulej and MolaMola.
Edik constantly comes up with new ideas, and the most valuable advice he gives to his friends is "do not be afraid to dream and do not give up. He is fond of equestrian sports and diving. Eduard does yoga, reads, is learning to draw, and asked me to give him books on chess.
He was detained on 18 June 2020 together with his father on their way to the CEC. On the same day, Eduard Babaryka was placed in the KGB pre-trial detention centre.
On 21 June 21, Eduard Babaryka was charged under Article 243 (tax evasion on a particularly large scale) of the Criminal Code. According to preliminary information, as of December 2021, Eduard is also a suspect under Article 130, Part 3 (Incitement to hatred) and Article 293, Part 1 (Organisation of mass riots) of the Code. Eduard's status in the criminal case related to alleged tax evasion remains unknown. In the middle of February 2022, Eduard's time in custody was again prolonged.
20 May 2020, Minsk, Belarus. Photo by Nadia Buzhan.
Journalist Siarhei Satsuk is one of the most famous Belarusian investigators. Over the past two decades, he has managed to change professions from excavator operator to reporter, write several science fiction novels, build a house, raise a daughter and become a grandfather. Sergei is an investigative journalist and editor-in-chief of the Belarusian online publication "Ejednevnik" (EJ.BY).
He was detained on 8 December 2021. His home was searched and he himself was interrogated by the Investigative Committee. After being interrogated in relation to an old case under Article 430 of the Criminal Code ("taking bribes"), Siarhei Satsuk was taken into custody and placed in the pre-trial detention centre in Minsk.
Earlier, on 25 March 2020, Siarhei Satsuk had already been detained in the context of the same case. On 26 March2020, he was taken into custody. On 26 and 27 March, searches were carried out at the office of "Ejednevnik" and at the journalist's home. Following the arrest and detention of Siarhei Satsuk, human rights organisations adopted a Statement, in which the journalist's detention and imprisonment in the context of the preliminary investigation stage of a criminal case were recognised as disproportionate and excessive measures. This was considered as politically motivated persecution of the journalist, aimed at forcing him to stop or change his activities in relation to disseminating information on corruption. The statement included the demand of Siarhei Satsuk's immediate release from custody. On 4 April 2020, the Prosecutor General of Belarus revoked the decision on Siarhei Satsuk's imprisonment.
Siarhei poses outside his house two days after his first release in his case. 6 April 2020, Minsk, Belarus. Photo by Nadia Buzhan.
Aliaksandr Ivulin is a player at football club Krumkachy, Tribuna.com journalist, and author of the Youtube channel Chestnok. The journalist was sentenced to 30 days of administrative arrest for a flag on the window. He was not released after that but was transferred to a pre-trial detention facility on suspicion of committing a criminal offense of group acts grossly disrupting public order. On January 19, 2022, in Saviecki District Court of Minsk Judge Siarhei Shatsila sentenced Aliaksandr Ivulin to 2 years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony. Photo HRY
Dzmitry Dubkou is a 28-year-old truck driver. He was detained on August 13.
On the night of August 10-11, Dzmitry attended a protest near the Puškinskaja metro station in Minsk. He was asked to block the road with a street-cleaning vehicle, which he did. On February 2, 2021, Judge Alena Zhukovich of the Saviecki District Court of Minsk sentenced Dzmitry Dubkou to seven years in a medium-security penal colony. Photo HRY
Ihnat Sidorchyk is a film director, actor and poet. He was detained on 10 August 2020 and initially charged with “organisation of mass riots” for having called on friends to meet in central Minsk on 9 August (the day of the presidential election) via a Telegram chat. In February 2021, Ihnat was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom in an open penitentiary (so-called “khimiya”), finding him guilty of “group actions that grossly violate public order”. Ihnat was released to await an appeal hearing, but he was re-arrested in June 2021 to begin serving his sentence.Photo HRY
Ihnat Sidorchyk is a film director, actor and poet. He was detained on 10 August 2020 and initially charged with “organisation of mass riots” for having called on friends to meet in central Minsk on 9 August (the day of the presidential election) via a Telegram chat. In February 2021, Ihnat was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom in an open penitentiary (so-called “khimiya”), finding him guilty of “group actions that grossly violate public order”. Ihnat was released to await an appeal hearing, but he was re-arrested in June 2021 to begin serving his sentence. Photo HRY
Ihnat Sidorchyk is a film director, actor and poet. He was detained on 10 August 2020 and initially charged with “organisation of mass riots” for having called on friends to meet in central Minsk on 9 August (the day of the presidential election) via a Telegram chat. In February 2021, Ihnat was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom in an open penitentiary (so-called “khimiya”), finding him guilty of “group actions that grossly violate public order”. Ihnat was released to await an appeal hearing, but he was re-arrested in June 2021 to begin serving his sentence. Photo HRY
Katsiaryna Barysevich was a staff correspondent at the independent news website Tut.by who covers court and legal proceedings and social issues, according to news reports. In the months prior to her arrest, Barysevich covered nationwide protests that erupted after the August 9, 2020, presidential election. Katsiaryna has a daughter On March 2, 2021, Barysevich was sentenced to a half-year in prison and a fine in 100 basic units for reporting personal data on the death of Raman Bandarenka. Photo HRY
Larysa Tankashkur was a letter carrier from Minsk, who passed personal data of internal affairs officers, which she had taken from the subscribers' files of the MIA publication "On Guard", to the administrator of a neighborhood Telegram group. On 22 January 2021, she was sentenced to three months of arrest. Photo HRY
Maryia Kalesnikava is member of the presidium of the Coordination Council, head of the campaign headquarters of former presidential nominee Viktar Babaryka. She was abducted on September 7, 2020 in Minsk and, along with two other members of the Coordination Council, Anton Radniankou and Ivan Krautsou, forcibly brought to the Ukrainian border to be expelled from the country. However, by tearing her passport and jumping out of the car, Kalesnikava foiled the special operation of deportation organized by the security forces. On September 6, 2021, the Minsk Regional Court sentenced Kalesnikava to 11 years in a general-security penal colony. Photo HRY
Volha Kalackaja, translator, English teacher. The investigation has determined that Volha slapped the journalist of the state TV channel STV Ryhor Azaronak (Grigoriy Azaryonok) at least once during a mass action on November 15, 2020. The incident occurred at the Pushkinskaya metro station in Minsk, where residents of the city gathered to honor the memory of the artist Raman Bandarenka, who died three days earlier after a clash with unknown people in his neighborhood.
A court in Belarus sentenced translator Volha Kalackaja to two years of house arrest after a one-day trial. Photo HRY
Yahor Martsinovich is the editor-in-chief of Nasha Niva newspaper. He has been working at Nasha Niva since 2009.
On July 8, 2021, police cracked down on the independent news website Nasha Niva, where Martsinovich works as chief editor, in which they detained him, raided the outlet’s office and the homes of its staffers, and blocked its website. Judge Anzhela Kastsiukevich found Yahor Martsinovich guilty under part 2 of article 216 of the Criminal Code and sentenced them each to 2.5 years of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony. Photo HRY
Gleb Koipish, aged 35, is director of the web design studio "Ikvadart", which is included in the Top 10 studios in Belarus. He is married with two children. Before the 2020 elections, Gleb recorded an appeal to the authorities. After being beaten by security forces on 10 August 2020, Gleb ended up in a trauma center. He was denied a criminal case. A year later, he was detained for participating in a protest. At the time of his detention, his little daughter was a couple of months old.
On 9 December 2021, he was sentenced to 2 years of "chemistry". Now he is serving his sentence in Mozyr. Photo: KH
Victor Fenchuk is a world-class environmentalist involved in the restoration of swamps, and is a former head of the public organisation "Protection of birds of the Fatherland". A few years ago, together with his son, he moved to live in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, where he oversaw a programme to preserve protected species of fauna. Victor, a well-known "wolf guardian" and author of the "wolf" blog, made considerable efforts to change the view of wolves as the enemy of man. Victor attended a reception of the British Queen. On 31 August, Viktor Fenchuk was arrested on suspicion of "organising and preparing actions that grossly violate public order." Now he is in custody, an investigation is under way against him, a sentence has not yet been passed. Photo: KH
Vladimir Gorokh (resident of Novogrudok, 48 years) has been working as a craftsman. He is married with 4 children - one of them is a minor. Shocked by the news that his son, a doctor, had been beaten by security forces, he wrote an insulting comment about Lukashenko. Gorokh was detained on 18 August on charges of preparing and organising mass riots and insulting the president. He was sentenced to 7 years. Photo: KH
Vladimir Zhuravko worked as an equipment operator at the Grodno Azot plant for almost 15 years. On the day of the nationwide strike on 26 October 2020, workers who had gathered near the plant were detained and beaten in a paddy-wagon by riot police ("siloviki"). After these events, Vladimir went on strike. He recorded a powerful appeal in which
he called on all workers to join the strike. After that he was fired. He is single and takes care of his aging parents.
On 18 September 2021, he was detained in the "Rabochy Rukh" case along with 13 other workers from all over Belarus. Accused of treason against the state. Photo: KH