TALLINN, Estonia — Ales Bialiatski, distinguished by the yellow name tag on his prison uniform, is being held in Penal Colony No. 9 in eastern Belarus, where he is classified as a political prisoner. This designation subjects him to particularly harsh treatment. Labeled as an “extremist” by the government, Bialiatski is routinely denied medications and food from home, lacks contact with family, faces forced labor, and is sometimes placed in punishment cells, as reported by former inmates.
For nearly 30 years, President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that Belarus has no political prisoners. However, activists assert that the country currently incarcerates around 1,300 individuals for their political beliefs. Among them is Bialiatski, a 62-year-old human rights advocate awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, whose health is reportedly deteriorating under such dire conditions.
As Belarus prepares for its presidential election on January 26, with no viable opposition candidates, Lukashenko is effectively guaranteed a seventh term. This election has drawn renewed attention to the nation’s human rights violations, particularly following the heavily criticized 2020 vote, which triggered widespread anti-government demonstrations and severe crackdowns leading to mass arrests.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled after running against Lukashenko in 2020, highlighted Bialiatski’s plight, stating it illustrates the severe circumstances in which Belarus finds itself due to the authoritarian regime. Her husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, is also imprisoned and has not communicated for nearly 700 days. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized that the treatment of a Nobel laureate like Bialiatski hints at the sufferings of numerous other political prisoners in Belarus.
Despite some political opponents receiving pardons recently, critics argue that this is merely a façade. Concurrently, authorities continue their crackdown, having arrested nearly 65,000 individuals since 2020, with many alleging torture and mistreatment instances in custody—a claim the government has denied. Reports indicate that at least seven prisoners have died while incarcerated.
Bialiatski was taken into custody during 2021 KGB raids and was convicted in March 2023 for smuggling and funding activities deemed threatening to public order, resulting in a ten-year sentence. Authorities have branded him particularly dangerous due to his supposed “extremist” actions.
Concern over Bialiatski’s health has escalated, with his wife, Natalia Pinchuk, stating she has received no communication from him since August. A food parcel she sent was returned to her, a disturbing indication of his living conditions. Other inmates have reported that Bialiatski’s health has significantly deteriorated, raising alarms about his need for medical attention.
“His recent letters show he is struggling with his eyesight, has lost considerable weight, and is in dire need of medication,” Pinchuk revealed. Bialiatski’s treatment is closely tied to his work with Viasna, a human rights group he founded that provided support to those persecuted post-election protests. The government’s response involved shutting down Viasna’s operation and arresting its key members, with some facing lengthy sentences.
Despite the risks, Bialiatski remained committed to his work, refusing to leave Belarus when urged, asserting that he could not abandon his colleagues in these dire times. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside two other organizations, an act seen as a rebuke to the Kremlin amid its ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
Nonetheless, conditions at Penal Colony No. 9 are bleak. Former inmates describe it as a facility where political prisoners undergo severe psychological and physical torment. Ruslan Akostka, a recently released inmate, recounted how Bialiatski was isolated from others and forced to engage in what he described as slave labor, spending long hours on strenuous tasks with minimal food.
Leanid Sudalenka, another former Viasna activist, highlighted that this prison is designed to “break” those who oppose the regime, expressing concern that Bialiatski may not survive until the end of his sentence, which would conclude when he is 70 years old.
Bialiatski has faced numerous arrests during his activism journey that began in the 1980s. After initially being imprisoned in 2011 under dubious tax-evasion charges, he returned to his advocacy following international pressure for his release. Though he was unable to attend the Nobel ceremony due to his imprisonment, his wife spoke on his behalf, shedding light on the harsh realities he and many others face.
Calls from activists like Oleg Orlov, co-founder of Memorial in Russia, for Bialiatski’s release have gone unanswered. While Belarus has released a number of political prisoners since mid-2024, key figures like Bialiatski, Tsikhanouski, and Viktar Babaryka remain incarcerated.
Viasna’s Sudalenka pointed out that efforts from Western leaders for Bialiatski’s release have been met with resistance, as Belarusian authorities leverage him as a political pawn in negotiations regarding ongoing sanctions. The U.N. condemned his imprisonment, recognizing it as a violation of his rights to free expression and assembly.
Bialiatski’s situation is viewed by many, including rights activists, as a testament to the international community’s failure to effectively address and intervene in the plight of political prisoners under oppressive regimes. It reflects not only the worsening landscape for human rights in Belarus but also highlights a broader issue of inadequacy within global systems aimed at protecting those who advocate for freedom.
