Statement on recognition of Aleh Khamenka as a political prisoner
The right baronies of Belarus made a statement on July 9.

Aleh Khamenka. Archive photo: LookByMedia
Joint statement by the Belarusian human rights community
In June 2025, Aleh Khamenka, a musician, teacher, and radio host, was detained in Minsk. As it is now known, a criminal case has been initiated against him for cooperation with an independent Belarusian media outlet, which is on the list of so-called “extremist groups” (the specific article of the Criminal Code is currently unknown).
We, the undersigned organizations, consider the detention and criminal prosecution of Aleh Khamenka as a continuation of the targeted policy of the authorities to limit the dissemination of uncensored information in the country and a continuation of the attack on freedom of speech.
The human rights community of Belarus has repeatedly noted that anti-extremist legislation is used by the country’s authorities to suppress public and political activity and dissent. Out-of-court, the Interior Ministry and the KGB arbitrarily recognize as extremist citizens’ groups brought together by public or political interests that criticize the actions of the authorities and demand reforms in the state and its policies. 38 media resources and organizations were recognized as extremist groups as well. This, in turn, paves the way for the arbitrary criminal prosecution and imprisonment of their employees, participants, and respondents as a disproportionate measure restricting the right to association and freedom of expression.
Given the circumstances, we believe that the criminal prosecution of Aleh Khamenka is, in fact, politically motivated and aimed at stopping or changing the nature of his legitimate public activities related to the non-violent exercise of freedom of expression and dissemination of information.
Based on this and guided by para. 2.1 and 3.1 of the Guidelines on the Definition of Political Prisoners adopted at the III Belarusian Human Rights Forum, we, the representatives of the human rights organizations, recognize Aleh Khamenka as a political prisoner and demand:
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to immediately release Aleh Khamenka and stop criminal prosecution against him;
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to refrain from using criminal prosecution as an instrument of pressure on freedom of expression, or other rights and freedoms;
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to immediately stop the repression and release all political prisoners.
Belarusian Association of Journalists;
Human Rights Center Viasna;
Belarusian PEN;
Legal Initiative;
Lawtrend;
Respect-Protect-Fulfill;
Belarusian Helsinki Committee;
Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House
