In April, at least three attorneys in Gomel were detained on politically motivated criminal charges.
One attorney was detained under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (‘organisation or participation in actions grossly violating public order’) for involvement in peaceful protests against the results of the 2020 presidential election. After three days in a temporary detention centre, he was released on condition of a travel ban and a non-disclosure undertaking.
A second attorney was detained under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code (“aiding extremist activity”). According to a source, he had “written something inappropriate somewhere on the internet”. He too was released under the same restrictions.
A third attorney was likewise detained on alleged charges of “aiding” such activities. His detention may be linked to the investigation into the hacking of the chatbot of the Belaruski Hajun project, which monitors Russian troop movements in Belarus. Unlike the others, he was not released and remains held in pre-trial detention.
In response to these events, instead of defending the rights of its members — as bar associations in neighbouring countries typically do — the Council of the Gomel Regional Bar Association convened a meeting with government officials. The “main subject of discussion” was said to be “attorneys’ compliance with executive discipline and the Rules of Professional Ethics”.
According to another source, on 23 May the KGB carried out mass inspections of attorneys at their workplaces in Gomel. Our editorial team is continuing to clarify the consequences of this raid.