At least 35 people from Smarhon, Navahrudak, Vaŭkavysk, and other cities have been convicted in the so-called “courtyard chats” case, according to the human rights center Viasna. At least 33 political prisoners in the case remain behind bars, including 25 women. Among them are elderly women, those with serious illnesses, and some with underage children. Several defendants have left the country.
On October 14, the Hrodna Regional Court announced verdicts for seven residents of Smarhon. All but one woman, who has cancer, were sentenced to two and a half years in prison and fined 800 base units (33,600 Belarusian rubles). Participants of the closed Telegram chat “VILIYA” were found guilty of “participation in an extremist formation.”
At the end of October, the same court sentenced nine residents of Vaŭkavysk for participating in the local Telegram chat “Volnyya Vaŭki.” Six women and three men were charged with “participation in an extremist formation” and sentenced to prison terms and fines of 800 base units each.
On October 21, the Hrodna Regional Court announced verdicts for five political prisoners for participating in the Telegram chat “Partyzany Navahrudku.” They were convicted under the same article and sentenced to two and a half years in prison each, along with fines of 800 base units.
A 63-year-old woman, Iryna Kishkurna, was also sentenced to two years in prison and fined 1,000 base units in connection with the “courtyard chats” case.
In the Minsk Regional Court, Anastasiya Harchakova, Anastasiya Sikirytskaya, and Marina Petrazhytskaya were sentenced to two years in prison and fined 800 base units each.
According to the prosecution, the coalition of courtyard chats known as “Orden” allegedly aimed to “seize power in Belarus unconstitutionally” and to “influence mass public consciousness.” It was claimed that chat participants were engaged in “undermining the country’s information sovereignty,” fostering protest sentiment, and creating divisions within society between supporters and opponents of the government.
Investigators described the chats as “underground communities” with “informal leaders” among their most active members.
The defendants were accused of participating in educational programs such as “PaCHATak,” “HUB 9,” “Nation of Leaders,” and the “Open University of Freedom.” In effect, any form of educational or civic activity abroad was interpreted as “preparation for a change of power.”
Authorities regarded such training as “preparation for regime change,” arguing that participants could use their acquired knowledge to run for parliament or join public associations in the future.
Moreover, charges were brought not only for actions but also for inaction. Investigators claimed that participants were waiting for the so-called “Day X” — the moment of a change of power, including the possible natural death of Lukashenka — without taking active steps.
It was revealed that some detained participants had been under surveillance for almost a year. The case materials included dozens of recorded Zoom conferences, phone calls, and online meetings that investigators said indicated “planning of coordinated activities.”
A separate part of the indictment concerned links between the defendants and the Lithuanian organization *Gero kaimyno agentūra, VšĮ* (“Good Neighbor Agency”). According to investigators, it allegedly coordinated and trained Belarusian activists, assisted them with visas and participation in international events, and helped with fundraising and project training.
On October 24, the Supreme Court of Belarus declared *Gero kaimyno agentūra* an “extremist organization.” The entity is officially registered in Lithuania, but its activities are now banned in Belarus.
Arrests in the “courtyard chats” case took place across Belarus in the autumn of last year. According to the prosecution, chat participants “attempted to unite into an organization with the goal of seizing power.” The KGB designated the courtyard coalition “Orden” as an “extremist formation,” which includes the chats “Zlyya Kohtiki,” “Sukhareva,” “Senitsa 2.0,” “Solidarnasc,” “Volnyya Vaŭki,” “Partyzany Navahrudku,” “VILIYA,” “Skromnyya Matryoshki,” and “Susedzi.”
According to the agency, those linked to these initiatives include Iryna Yakauleva, Natallia Doronina, Dziyana Haurylava, Ukrainian citizen Ivan Omelian, Volha Nekhaychyk, Kanstantsin Kirylenka, Lizaveta Plytnik, Natallia Huzhova, Iryna Smaliarova, Stanislau Botvin, and Natallia Lantukh.
Dozens of people have been charged under Articles 357 (“Conspiracy or other actions aimed at seizing state power”) and 361-1 (“Creation of or participation in an extremist formation”) of the Criminal Code. For some defendants, the initial charges of “conspiracy” were later reclassified as “participation in a formation.”