On April 7, around 10 a.m., security forces detained Viktar Sazonov when he drove up to his house in a car.

He was detained by the security forces in special ammunition, reports "Urban Human Rights Protection".

The reason for the detention is still unknown.

Viktar Sazonov was detained on July 14, 2021, when a wave of searches and detentions of human rights defenders swept across Belarus.

For a considerable time, Sazonov was in the status of a suspect in the "Viasna case", was under a bond not to leave, later this status was removed from him.

Persecution of Human Rights Center "Viasna"

As of March 3, 2022, 6 "Spring" activists are behind bars.

On September 17, 2020, human rights defender "Viasna"

was detained .

She has been behind bars since then.

First, she was charged according to Part 3 of Art.

293 of the Criminal Code — "training or other preparation of persons to participate in mass riots, or financing of such activities."

Later, accusations of "inciting social enmity against the government" (Part 3, Article 130 of the Criminal Code) and "Participation in a criminal organization" (Part 2, Article 285 of the Criminal Code) were added.

• On September 6, 2022,

  Marfa Rabkova

  was sentenced to 15 years in prison under the general regime and a fine of 700 basic units (22,400 Belarusian rubles, or over $8,800).

  On February 28, 2023, the Supreme Court of Belarus considered the appeal in the case of Rabkova.

  The term of imprisonment was shortened by three months

Also remain prisoners:

• Andrei Chapyuk

  , a volunteer of "Viasny" from Minsk, was detained on October 2, 2020.

  He was accused of participating in mass riots and participating in a criminal organization.

  Chapyuk was sentenced to 6 years in prison under the enhanced regime and fined 500 base units (16,000 Belarusian rubles or more than $6,300);

• Leonid Sudalenko

  , director of the Gomel branch of "Vyasny", was detained on January 18, 2021.

  According to the article on mass riots, he was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

• Ales Bialiatski

  , chairman of "Viasna", was detained on July 14, 2021. During his imprisonment, on October 7, 2022, Ales Bialiatski was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

  On March 3, 2023, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

  Bialiatskii was found guilty of "money smuggling by an organized group" in 2016-2021 (Part 4, Article 228 of the Criminal Code) and "Protest financing" in 2020 (Part 2, Article 342 of the Criminal Code).

• Valyantsin Stefanovich

  , deputy chairman of "Viasny" and vice-president of FIDH, was detained on July 14, 2021.

  On March 3, 2023, he was sentenced to 9 years in prison.

  He was found guilty of "money smuggling by an organized group" in 2016-2021 (Part 4, Article 228 of the Criminal Code) and "Protest financing" in 2020 (Part 2, Article 342 of the Criminal Code).

• Uladzimer Labkovich

  , lawyer of "Viasny", was detained on July 14, 2021. On March 3, 2023, he was sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment.

  He was found guilty of "money smuggling by an organized group" in 2016-2021 (Part 4, Article 228 of the Criminal Code) and "Protest financing" in 2020 (Part 2, Article 342 of the Criminal Code).

Released:

• Tattsiana Lasitsa

  , a volunteer of "Viasna" from Goml, was detained on January 21, 2021. According to the article about mass riots, she spent 1 year and 8 months behind bars.

  The human rights defender did not serve the entire term.