Belarusian Authorities Initiate Trial in Absentia of Prominent Political Analysts

Belarusian authorities have initiated proceedings in a trial in absentia of 20 prominent political analysts, who are known for their work with prestigious universities and think tanks worldwide. The analysts, all of whom have left Belarus, are facing accusations of conspiracy to overthrow the government and involvement in an extremist group. If found guilty, they could potentially face up to 12 years in prison upon their return to the country, along with the seizure of their assets.

In response to the allegations, the analysts have strongly refuted the charges, describing them as „absurd“ and expressing skepticism about receiving a fair trial. The trial is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Belarus, following mass protests that erupted after the controversial 2020 presidential election, which saw Alexander Lukashenko securing his sixth term as president. Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, faced widespread condemnation from the opposition and Western countries, who viewed the election as fraudulent.

The aftermath of the election saw a significant number of arrests, with reports of brutal treatment of detainees, the closure of independent media outlets and human rights organizations, as well as the imprisonment of journalists. Subsequently, an estimated 500,000 individuals, including key opposition figures, fled the country, prompting authorities to target Belarusians abroad advocating for tougher sanctions against the Lukashenko regime.

Among the individuals on trial are prominent figures such as Ryhor Astapenia from the Belarus Initiative at Chatham House, Yauheni Kryzhanouski from the University of Strasbourg, and Katsiaryna Shmatsina from Virginia Tech University. The analysts released a statement through the Viasna center, Belarus‘ renowned human rights organization, expressing little hope for a just outcome, given the political nature of the charges.

The situation in Belarus remains dire, with the Viasna reporting 1,403 political prisoners in the country, including the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. In light of the ongoing trial, opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who resides in exile in Lithuania, has called for solidarity and support from international think tanks to defend free thinking in Belarus against government repression.