Belarus: New criminal charges against Leanid Sudalenka

The Observatory has been informed about new criminal charges brought by the Belarusian authorities against Mr Leanid Sudalenka, a prominent Belarusian human rights defender and former head of the Homiel branch of Human Rights Center “Viasna”, living in exile.

On 26 March 2025, two representatives of the Homiel district department of the Investigative Committee and a prosecutor visited Leanid Sudalenka’s registered address in Homiel, South East of Belarus, to document his absence, a procedure necessary to initiate in absentia criminal proceedings against Belarusian nationals residing outside of Belarus. During this visit, a representative of the Investigative Committee confirmed that new criminal charges were brought against Leanid Sudalenka for “facilitating extremist activities” (Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code), a crime punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment. The essence of the charges remains unknown.

On 3 April 2025, two law enforcement officers came to see Leanid Sudalenka’s 87-year-old mother, who lives in a village in Homiel Region. Despite knowing that Leanid Sudalenka lives abroad, and knowing that he had not told his mother of his persecution and imprisonment period to protect her, as he pretended to work abroad during and after his imprisonment, the law enforcement officers informed his mother that her son was on a wanted list, and that a new criminal case had been initiated against him. His mother was also compelled to sign a document attesting to her son’s absence from her home.

The Observatory recalls that Leanid Sudalenka has already been unlawfully convicted in retaliation for his legitimate human rights twice in the past, including in absentia.

Leanid Sudalenka was arbitrarily detained on 18 January 2021, before being sentenced, in November 2021, to three years of imprisonment for “financing and organising actions that grossly violate public order” (parts 1 and 2 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code) on fabricated charges. While imprisoned, he was subjected to harsh detention conditions, discriminatory harassment and ill-treatment, including repeated placement in a solitary confinement cell, no visits from family members, inadequate medical care, and excruciating compulsory labour in a cold workshop. He was also classified as “prone to extremism and other destructive activities” and as a “persistent offender who did not take the path of correction” by the prison administration, excluding him from both early release and the replacement of his sentence with a milder type of punishment.

After completing his sentence in July 20231, Leanid Sudalenka was released, and left Belarus shortly after. However, in November 2023, the Investigative Committee opened a new criminal case against him, charging him with “facilitating extremist activities” under parts 1 and 2 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code. On 17 June 2024, the Homiel District Court sentenced Leanid Sudalenka in absentia to five years of imprisonment and a fine of 26,000 rubles (approximately 7,400 Euros). As noted by Human Rights Center “Viasna”, Leanid Sudalenka was also included both in the Belarusian and Russian wanted list, which would lead to his immediate arrest, should he travel to the Russian Federation or Belarus.

The mass initiation of investigations and trials in absentia (so-called “special proceedings”) forms part of a broader strategy of the Belarusian authorities to intimidate and persecute those Belarusians forced to flee the country because they are perceived to oppose the authorities. Hundreds of criminal cases have already been opened, and at least 112 persons have been convicted as of November 2024. In addition, the Belarusian authorities are actively targeting exiled citizens through direct threats and legal restrictions, while simultaneously intensifying pressure on their relatives within Belarus via surveillance, harassment, searches and detention.

The Observatory strongly condemns the ongoing judicial harassment against Leanid Sudalenka, which is a blatant attempt to silence his vocal support for imprisoned Belarusian human rights defenders, and urges the Belarusian authorities to immediately drop all charges against him. The Observatory also strongly condemns the ongoing harassment of Leanid Sudalenka’s relatives, including his elderly mother, by the Belarusian authorities, conducted to intimidate and inflict further physical and psychological suffering on them.

1Leanid Sudalenka was released after serving his three-year prison sentence but having effectively spent two and a half years in prison, because under the Belarusian system, one day in pre-trial detention is equivalent to 1,5 days of imprisonment.