TALLINN, Estonia — In a significant development, a Catholic priest in Belarus was sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of high treason after expressing criticism toward the government. This verdict represents the first instance of politically motivated charges against Catholic clergy since Belarus gained independence following the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991.
The sentencing of Rev. Henrykh Akalatovich coincides with an escalating crackdown on dissent by Belarusian authorities, particularly as the nation approaches its presidential election scheduled for January 26. This election is widely expected to secure a seventh term for the authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.
According to the Viasna Human Rights Center, Akalatovich, who is 64 years old, has denied the treason allegations made against him. The organization has included him on its list of 1,265 political prisoners currently detained in Belarus.
Pavel Sapelka, a representative from Viasna, noted the unprecedented nature of this case, stating, “For the first time since the fall of the Communist regime, a Catholic priest in Belarus has been convicted on criminal charges that are typically associated with political prisoners.” The severity of the sentence appears aimed at stifling dissent among the clergy ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.
Akalatovich has been detained since November 2023 and is said to be suffering from cancer, having undergone surgery shortly before his arrest. The priest, who hails from Valozhyn in western Belarus, has faced isolation during his imprisonment, with authorities refusing to accept warm clothing and food sent by supporters.
He is one of many religious leaders—Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant—who have been jailed, silenced, or forced to flee due to their opposition to the 2020 elections that awarded Lukashenko a sixth term amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud. That contentious vote sparked mass protests, leading to a severe governmental crackdown that resulted in over 65,000 arrests and numerous reports of police brutality.
Authorities have particularly targeted clergy who voiced support for protestors or provided refuge to demonstrators in their places of worship. The government has actively attempted to exert control over the clergy by summoning them for “preventive” political discussions, scrutinizing their online presence, and having security services monitor their sermons.
Orthodox Christians comprise approximately 80% of Belarus’s population, while about 14% identify as Catholic and 2% as Protestant.
Lukashenko, in power for nearly three decades and self-identifying as an “Orthodox atheist,” has been vocal against dissenting clergy during the 2020 protests, urging them to focus on their religious duties and avoid inciting unrest.
Additionally, Lukashenko maintains a close alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, permitting Russian forces to utilize Belarusian territory for operations in Ukraine since February 2022, and allowing the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the country.
