Mass detentions and searches across Belarus: Who became regime’s target on July 14

On July 14, Belarusian security forces made an unprecedented attack on the country’s human rights community, NGOs, and political parties. Dozens of raids took place across the country, many people were detained.

Searches were conducted in the offices of the following organisations and parties:

• human rights centre Viasna (Minsk);
• Centre for Legal Transformation Lawtrend (Minsk);
• Belarusian Helsinki Committee (Minsk);
• Belarusian Association of Journalists (Minsk);
• media and charity project Imena (Minsk);
• For Freedom movement (Minsk);
• United Civic Party of Belarus (Minsk);
• Centre for Economic Research BEROC (Minsk);
• platform Territory of Rights (Minsk);
• Belarusian People’s Front party (Minsk);
• Gender Perspectives (Minsk);
• Third Sector Centre (Hrodna);
• Centre for Information and Legal Assistance (Polatsk);
• Union of Belarusian Writers;
• Leu Sapeha Foundation;
• Novak Laboratory

A number of human rights defenders, representatives of NGOs and civil position were detained, their apartments were searched, some of them were taken into custody:

• Ales Byalyatski, Chairman of HRC Viasna (search was carried out; he was detained for 72 hours as part of a criminal case);
• Valyantsin Stefanovich, Deputy Chairman of of HRC Viasna (search was carried out; detained for 72 hours as part of a criminal case);
• human rights activist Uladzimir Labkovich (search was carried out; detained for 72 hours as part of a criminal case);
• Nina Labkovich, executive director of the Angels Band investor association (search was carried out; detained for 72 hours as part of a criminal case);
• Andrey Paluda, a coordinator of the campaign Human Rights Defenders Against the Death Penalty (search was carried out; detained for 72 hours as part of a criminal case);
• human rights activist and journalist Syarhei Sys (search was carried out; detained for 72 hours as part of a criminal case);
• human rights activist Alena Laptsyonak (search was carried out; detained for 72 hours as part of a criminal case);
• human rights activist Yauheniya Babayeva (search was carried out; detained for 72 hours as part of a criminal case);
• Volha Smalyanka, Lawtrend director (search was carried out; she was left at large);
• Katsyaryna Sinyuk, the founder of Imena project (search was carried out; she was released on her own recognizance);
• Viktar Yanchurevich, Deputy Chairman of For Freedom movement (search was carried out; left at large);
• economist Yaraslau Ramanchuk (search was carried out; left at large);
• Anatol Lyabedzka, a former chairman of the United Civic Party of Belarus (UCPB) (search was carried out; left at large);

• Tamara Matskevich, a member of the Belarusian School Society (search was carried out; left at large);
• Syarhei Matskevich, a member of the Community Centre (search was carried out, detained for 72 hours as part of a criminal case);
• Hrodna-based human rights activist Viktar Sazonau (search was carried out; he was detained for 72 hours as part of a criminal case);
• Vasil Leuchankau, a former member of HRC Viasna (search was carried out, he was interrogated by the Investigative Committee, but later released);
• Safiya Yemyalyanava, chairperson of the board of the POST Education Centre (search was carried out);
• Ales Dzerhachou, a human rights activist from Smarhon (search was carried out, he was interrogated, but left at large);
• SYMPA / BIPART director Natallya Rabava (her apartment has been sealed off, she was left at large);
• activists Alyaksandr Rutkevich and Aryna Karshunova (they were detained, but later released);
• activists Ales Minou and Yauheniya Subat (detained);
• Ihar Kazmerchak, editor of orsha.eu portal and human rights activist (he was detained, but later released);
• Barysau-based human rights activist Aleh Matskevich (he was detained, interrogated, and released); Kiryl Kafanau, a human rights activist from Brest (search was carried out, he was interrogated by GUBAZiK);
• Mikola Sharakh, a trade union activist from Polatsk (detained for 72 hours as part of a criminal case);
• poet Lera Som (she was detained, but later released);
• activist Alyaksandr Kharyton (detained as part of the so called terrorism act case);
• Katsyaryna Syarheyeva, director of Imena project (search was carried out, she was released);
• Homiel activist Artur Yusupau (he was interrogated, but released);
• UCPB member Volha Belyautsova (search was carried out, she was released).

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