Since the beginning of Russia‘s all-out conflict, Minsk increased detentions and conducted strict interrogations at border points.
The Belarusian Human Rights Center, “Viasna”, has reported that 12 Ukrainians were detained in Belarus under politically motivated charges of spies and involvement in criminal organisations.
Belarus has increased pressure on Ukrainians living within its borders since the beginning of Russia’s war. Human rights advocates say that Ukrainian citizens are arrested on administrative and criminal charges and subjected to long interrogations as well as phone checks at border crossings.
Belarus, which is a close Russian ally, has also started prosecuting Ukrainians over alleged “collaboration” with Ukrainian intelligence agencies. Eight Ukrainians have been accused of “spying”, “involvement in a criminal organization” by Belarus. Belarusian state TV, the main source of news on these cases broadcasts propaganda reports about detained individuals. Most trials are conducted behind closed doors.
In September 2023, a Ukrainian forester Viacheslav Borodii was arrested in the district of Yelsk in Belarus, which borders Ukraine’s Zhytomyr Oblast. He was accused of belonging to a criminal gang.
Belarus held a court trial on 22 October at the Minsk City Court in which Ivan Likholat was charged with “terrorist activities”. The trial was also conducted behind closed doors.
On 10 July 2024 the Bobruisk court sentenced Yurii bandarenko to 1,5 years in a penal colonies for insulting Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko. The details of his persecutors were kept secret due to the closed trial.
Maria Misiuk has been accused of “collaborating” with Ukrainian intelligence agencies. However, her case is still pending and her legal status and current whereabouts remain unknown.
Serhii Boiko, another Ukrainian citizen, was sentenced to prison in the summer 2023, for his involvement in a criminal organisation. His sentence is not disclosed.
Oleksandr Koutovych was sentenced in March 2024 to five years’ imprisonment on multiple charges including incitement of hate and insulting Lukashenko. Kotovych, whose exact accusations are unclear, is currently serving his sentence in Shklov’s colony No. 17.
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