Repression Intensifies in Belarus
At least 419 people in Belarus have been convicted in cases related to aiding Ukraine during the full-scale war. According to the Belarusian human rights group 'Viasna,' the majority of these convictions are connected to the so-called 'Hayun case,' an independent monitoring initiative tracking the movements of Russian and Belarusian military forces.
Among those sentenced are:
- 73 women;
- 142 individuals currently imprisoned;
- 222 convicted for assisting extremist activities;
- 44 charged with treason against the state;
- 17 foreigners found guilty of espionage;
- 29 people accused of terrorism, including sabotage on railways and military airbases;
- 45 sentenced for donating to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The 'Belarusian Hayun' Project
Declared an extremist organization by Belarusian authorities in 2022, the 'Belarusian Hayun' Telegram channel amassed nearly 336,000 followers. The project ceased operations on February 7, 2025, after its founder, Anton Motolko, reported a hacking incident targeting the channel’s chatbot. This breach exposed individuals sharing military movement information to potential criminal charges. Subsequently, mass arrests targeted those who contributed data to the bot.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has highlighted this latest wave of repression connected to the 'Hayun case,' underscoring the gravity of Belarus’s crackdown on supporters of Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.
These developments demonstrate a tightening grip by Belarusian authorities on dissent and support for Ukraine. Independent initiatives like 'Belarusian Hayun' have become particularly vulnerable under an authoritarian regime determined to control information flow and suppress any form of resistance. Given the international concern, including statements from Ukraine, this situation poses significant risks to regional stability and bilateral relations.