Иллюстративное фото: УВД Минского облисполкома
The Viasna Human Rights Center has reported on the human rights situation in Belarus in December 2025. According to rights defenders, a high level of repression and politically motivated persecution persisted in the country at the end of the year: more than a thousand political prisoners remain in places of detention, new detentions and cases of pressure are being recorded, and the expansion of practices to combat “extremism” and “terrorism” remains one of the key tools for restricting citizens’ rights and freedoms.
Since 2020, at least 9,282 people have been subjected to criminal prosecution on political grounds. At least 8,000 of them have received sentences, including in absentia. These figures continue to grow every month, despite attempts by the authorities to limit the public availability of information about repression.
As of the end of December 2025, 1,131 political prisoners were being held in places of detention, including 167 women. During the month, another 50 people were recognized as political prisoners. In total, since May 2020, 4,339 people have received this status, while 3,208 former political prisoners are already at liberty due to the completion of their sentences, release, or a change in preventive measures.
On December 13, the authorities announced the “pardon” of 123 political prisoners. Among those released were Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of Viasna Ales Bialiatski, Viasna human rights defender Uladzimir Labkovich, 2020 presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, member of Babaryka’s campaign team Maria Kalesnikava, lawyer Maksim Znak, former editor-in-chief of TUT.BY Maryna Zolatava, political analyst Aliaksandr Fiaduta, and politician and activist Paval Sieviaryniec.
Rights defenders stress that these releases were accompanied by de facto forced exile, without the possibility of returning to Belarus, and do not indicate systemic change.
At the same time, human rights defenders and activists remain in detention, and at least several political prisoners are being held in complete isolation from the outside world. Cases of additional pressure on those convicted continue to be recorded, including placement in punishment cells, the opening of new cases on charges of “persistent violation of prison regulations,” as well as criminal prosecution of citizens for assisting political prisoners.
During December, Viasna recorded more than 80 cases of politically motivated repression, including detentions, searches, and interrogations. Pressure is being exerted not only inside the country but also beyond its borders: Belarusians abroad report contacts from security services, attempts at psychological pressure, and efforts to coerce them into returning.
Torture and cruel treatment remain a separate problem. Rights defenders continue to document evidence of systemic violence in detention facilities and penal colonies, including physical and psychological pressure, degrading conditions of detention, and threats against relatives. These practices are applied both at the investigation stage and during the serving of sentences.
Despite the expiration of statutes of limitations in a number of cases related to the 2020 protests, criminal prosecution for expressing dissent with state policy continues. Citizens are still being held accountable for statements about officials and Alyaksandr Lukashenka, as well as on charges of “inciting hatred” and participation in “extremist activity.”
Lists of “extremists” and “terrorists,” “extremist” formations, and information products continue to expand, laying the groundwork for the continuation of state terror and repression.
Rights defenders note that the combination of these measures creates an atmosphere of fear, self-censorship, and constant control. Despite individual releases, 2025 did not bring systemic improvement in the human rights situation in Belarus, and repression remains a key instrument of state policy.