TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent opposition activist in Belarus has been sentenced to six years in prison, according to the country’s leading human rights organization, Viasna. This decision signifies the ongoing repression against dissent in the country, which has escalated significantly over the past few years.
Dzmitry Kuchuk, the head of a Green Party that was dissolved last year, faced charges related to serious breaches of public order and inciting actions that could jeopardize national security. In addition to the six-year prison term, he has also been fined approximately $6,000. The trial, which took place in Minsk without public access, concluded earlier this week, but the details of the ruling were not disclosed until several days later.
Kuchuk, aged 50, was taken into custody on February 16 after he attempted to honor Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny by laying flowers and lighting a candle outside the Russian Embassy in Minsk. This act coincided with the shocking announcement of Navalny’s death in a remote Arctic prison.
Following his arrest, the authorities imprisoned Kuchuk for multiple 15-day increments, ultimately leading to criminal charges. Viasna reported that during his arrest, the activist suffered physical abuse, and his condition worsened while in detention pending trial.
Situated next to Russia, Belarus has a population of approximately 9.5 million and experienced widespread public protests following the controversial election in August 2020, which secured a sixth term for the authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Both domestic opposition figures and international observers condemned the electoral process as fraudulent, prompting months of protests across the nation. Security forces responded with aggressive crackdowns, resulting in over 65,000 arrests in the four years since the 2020 elections.
As Lukashenko prepares for his seventh consecutive reelection campaign on January 26, the government has increased efforts to suppress dissent, leading to further arrests in the lead-up to the election.
Kuchuk gained notoriety in 2016 due to his protests against the establishment of a nuclear power plant in Belarus. Last July, the Belarusian Supreme Court disbanded his Green Party as part of a broader purge of political organizations ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections. The party was previously affiliated with the European Green Party.
In December of 2023, Kuchuk sought to compete for a seat in parliament but was disqualified. His imprisonment marks him as the seventh leader of a political party incarcerated in Belarus.
As of now, Viasna has identified approximately 1,300 individuals as political prisoners currently held in Belarusian jails.
