FLOWER POWER?
FEMALE POLITICAL PRISONERS in BELARUS:
TWO YEARS after the SUPRESSION of
the LARGEST POLITICAL RALLIES in the COUNTRY
FEMALE POLITICAL PRISONERS in BELARUS:
TWO YEARS after the SUPRESSION of
the LARGEST POLITICAL RALLIES in the COUNTRY
"A person deprived of liberty is to be regarded as a politicial prisoner whether the detention has been imposed solely because of their political, religious or other beliefs, as well as non-violent exercise of freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression and information, peaceful assembly and association, and other rights and freedoms".
Viasna Human Rights Organization
Belarus
785* women have faced court
for actions related to 2020 political protests.
451 remain in custody.
Despite a popular belief that women protesters were mostly young, data shows
a different reality
a different reality
In 2020-2022, in Belarus women of ALL AGES have been imprisoned for disagreeing with the rigged elections and protesting against police violence.
2 arrestees were underage.
Out of the 785 female prisoners,
at least 15 convicts have
underage kids.
2 arrestees were underage.
Out of the 785 female prisoners,
at least 15 convicts have
underage kids.
- 28%of the imprisoned women are
aged 18-29 - 31%of the imprisoned women are
aged 30-39 - 23%of the imprisoned women are
aged 40-49 - 18%of the imprisoned women are
aged 50+
Back in 2020, foreign media compared women's protests in Belarus with a carnival, noting two probable future scenarios:
"a bloody crackdown" or "a sudden fall of the regime".
Two years later, the situation looks more than appalling.
The verdicts of 10-20 years of jail
have been given to Lukashenko’s female political opponents, activists, and ordinary citizens pressed ridiculous fabricated «terrorism» charges.
have been given to Lukashenko’s female political opponents, activists, and ordinary citizens pressed ridiculous fabricated «terrorism» charges.
- Halina DZERBYSHretired accountant
from Hrodna region,
accused of terrorism -
sentenced to 20 years of penal colony - Volha MAYORAVApolitical activist,
a former member of
the United Civil
Party, accused of
terrorism - sentenced to 20 years of penal colony - Iryna MELKHERretired individual entrepreneur accused of terrorism - sentenced to 17 years of penal colony
- Marfa RABKOVAhuman rights activist,
coordinator of «Viasna» human rights center - sentenced to 15 years of penal colony - Ljubou
RAZANOVICHwife of Orthodox
priest, together
with her husband
and son accused
of terrorism - got 15 years of penal colony - Maryia
KALESNIKAVAflutist and political activist, head of the electoral campaign of alternative presidential candidate V.Babarika (also in jail) - got
11 years of penal colony
Currently, there are big problems connected with
the collection and analysis of data related to political prisoners in Belarus:
the collection and analysis of data related to political prisoners in Belarus:
- 57women are now kept in
pre-trial detention centers
awaiting trial
Thus, their status is hard to be
classified. - 0 infois at times given to human rights defenders by political prisoners' families who fear stigma and further repressions and thus often consciously hide the data of verdicts or trials.
- >100on/offline media are banned.
Moreover, many trials are held in close court. There is nowhere to learn about either verdicts or detainees.
FLOWER POWER!
In 2020, Belarusian women fought for freedom trying to put an end to 27 years of dictatorship. This fight was uneven.
Now they need your SUPPORT.
Make their stories HEARD in your country.
Show solidarity, SPEAK UP against the lawlessness of Belarusin regime!
In 2020, Belarusian women fought for freedom trying to put an end to 27 years of dictatorship. This fight was uneven.
Now they need your SUPPORT.
Make their stories HEARD in your country.
Show solidarity, SPEAK UP against the lawlessness of Belarusin regime!
If you want to do more for Belarusian women prisoners whatever their status is,
CONTACT one of these organizations that offer different formats of help.
CONTACT one of these organizations that offer different formats of help.
- Assist political prisoners' families to buy and send packages to prisons and penal colonies
- Choose from a wide range of activities provided to people facing political persecution: from evacuation to psychological help to the released
