On January 8, 2025, after more than 630 days in prison images of Belarusian political prisoner Viktor Babaryko were released. Babaryko is one of Belarus’s most famous political prisoners who ran a powerful campaign against the authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko in the 2020 elections. Following the polls Babaryko was arrested, accused of “laundering funds obtained by criminal means” and sentenced to 14 years of prison without the possibility of an appeal.
Viktor Babaryko in his prison overalls, appeared to have lost a lot of weight. Source: Sprava
Babaryko’s political team has had no contact or information on Babaryko since his arrest and is ecstatic at the recent signs of life. The images of the political prisoner include three photographs, one of which he is depicted writing a letter to relatives. Aside from the photos, a short video was also released of Viktor Babaryko sending greetings to his family. However, It remains unclear when the images were captured, and the current state of the captive.
The 2020 election results were deemed by the EU to have been falsified in order to keep the president of 30 years in power. Lukashenko has used fear as a means to maintain his dictatorship and dissuade civil disobedience, namely through mass arrests, police brutality, and torture. However, in some cases, the politically motivated arrests resulted in greater fuel for civil disobedience as was the case following the arrest of Babaryko.
Tens of thousands take to the streets in protest of Belarus’s disputed 2020 election. Source: Aljazeera
The opposition leader’s arrest and lack of transparency on the government’s behalf fuelled mass protests, which were led by Maria Kolesnikova, a member of Babaryko’s campaign. Kolesniova faced a similar fate to her colleague and was arrested in 2023 on charges of extremism and plotting to overthrow the government. Not seen for over a year and a half her father was recently permitted to visit. Since the visit, no information regarding her wellbeing has been available and her sister Tatsiana claims Maria Kilesnikova refused contact with relatives and lawyers.
Image 3: Maria Kilesnikova pictured with her father who was allowed a visit after 600 days with no contact. Source: Tsihanouskaya
It is suspected that the release of over a hundred political prisoners over several waves, last occurring in September along with the signs of life of Babaryko and Kolesnikova are a ploy to win favor with the West. The timing is likely also strategic with the upcoming 2025 election where Lukashenko is the only candidate running and with no observers allowed.
Of the prisoners released most were already approaching the end of their sentences and many of them had asked for a pardon for their ‘crimes’. High-profile prisoners are not expected to benefit from this demonstration and if alive Babaryko is among those least likely to be released. In Belarus, despite several releases, an estimated 1,300 political prisoners remain captive, and new arrests continue.
Cover image: Supporters hold up a poster of Viktor Babaryko and his son Eduard Babaryko who were detained on the same day in June 2020. Source: Jornal O’Guardiao
