Dozens Of Minors Convicted Under “Political” Articles In 2025 — Rights Defenders

In 2025, courts handed down sentences to several dozen minors under Criminal Code articles that are often used for politically motivated prosecutions. This was reported by the Viasna Human Rights Center, citing a report by the Supreme Court.

According to the report, last year the following convictions were recorded:

• 16 minors — for “active participation in actions that grossly violate public order” (Article 342 of the Criminal Code);
• 6 minors — for “facilitating extremist activity” (Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code);
• 5 minors — for “inciting hatred” (Article 130 of the Criminal Code);
• 4 minors — for an “act of terrorism” (Article 289 of the Criminal Code);
• 4 minors — for “insulting Lukashenka” (Article 368 of the Criminal Code);
• 3 minors — for “desecration of state symbols” (Article 370 of the Criminal Code);
• 1 minor — for “violence or threat of violence against an official” (Article 366 of the Criminal Code);
• 1 minor — for “participation on the territory of a foreign state in an armed formation or armed conflict, military actions, or recruitment or training for such participation” (Article 361-3 of the Criminal Code).