Birthday of Maksim Znak — Lawyer, Writer, and Laureate of International Awards

On 4 September, political prisoner and attorney Maksim Znak turned 44 years old. This is already the fifth birthday that Maksim has spent behind bars.

Who is Maksim Znak?

A well-known attorney, legal scholar, university lecturer, bard, athlete, husband, and father. On 6 September 2021, the Minsk Regional “Court” sentenced him to 10 years in a high-security prison for carrying out his professional duties — namely, for providing legal support to the presidential campaign of Viktar Babaryka. He has been held in custody since 9 September 2020.

Human rights defenders have recognised Maksim Znak as a political prisoner, while Amnesty International has declared him a prisoner of conscience.

International organisations have repeatedly issued statements in support of Maksim Znak — among them, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), the American Bar Association (ABA), and Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) — the latter having awarded Maksim its 2021 Lawyers for Lawyers Award. Expressions of solidarity have also come from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and dozens of other associations.

On 21 May 2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, in its decision A/HRC/WGAD/2022/24, established that the lawyer had been detained in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and that his imprisonment was therefore arbitrary. This was not the only response from international human rights bodies. On 19 January 2024, the UN Human Rights Committee requested that Belarus urgently adopt interim measures to ensure Maksim Znak’s access to qualified medical care and to allow communication with his lawyers and family for the duration of the Committee’s consideration of his case.

Nevertheless, since February 2023, the lawyer has been completely cut off from the outside world: the authorities have denied him access to lawyers, phone calls, visits, and correspondence with anyone, including his family. Such a condition of detention, in which a prisoner is held without contact or communication, is known as incommunicado detention.

An album in support of imprisoned lawyers, including Maksim Znak, has previously been published — portraying him from different sides: as a lawyer, athlete, writer, and bard. The website www.maksimznak.org was also created, detailing the story of his persecution.

While in prison, Maksim wrote “Zekamerone”, which has been published in Belarusian, Russian, English, German, and Swedish. A stage adaptation based on the book has already been performed — tickets sold out in a single day. The book earned Maksim a nomination for the British Republic of Consciousness Prize and the Disturbing the Peace Award.

Maksim’s poem “Bulba” has become a source of strength for many Belarusians, and his creative work continues to inspire musical covers.

We extend our warmest congratulations to Maksim on his birthday — and we hope he feels how deeply he is awaited in freedom.