At least seven lawyers are currently serving prison sentences ranging from 6 to 10 years on politically motivated convictions. All of them have been recognized as political prisoners by human rights organizations.
The Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers was founded in April 2023 by lawyers deprived of the right to practice in Belarus for political reasons. It emerged as a response to ongoing repression against lawyers defending political prisoners or expressing independent views, as well as to the collapse of the Bar as an institution in Belarus. The official Bar not only fails to protect its members, but also participates in repression by depriving lawyers of their right to practice.
On 20 June 2023, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Resolution No. 2499) recognised BAHRL as an organisation entrusted with the protection of repressed Belarusian lawyers and with improving the level of legal assistance. The activities of the Association are regulated by its Charter and Code of Ethics in accordance with international standards of independence, self-governance and principles of ethical behaviour of lawyers.
The Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers cooperates with a number of international organisations of lawyers, such as: Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L), the American Bar Association (ABA), the Council of Bars and Law Societies in Europe (CCBE), International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and others.
At least seven lawyers are currently serving prison sentences ranging from 6 to 10 years on politically motivated convictions. All of them have been recognized as political prisoners by human rights organizations.
MAKSIM ZNAK
ALIAKSEI BARODKA
YULIYA YURHILEVICH
ALIAKSANDR DANILEVICH
VITAL BRAHINETS
ANASTASIYA LAZARENKA
SIARHEI KHLYSTOU