On March 19, with the assistance of the American government, several political prisoners were pardoned, among them Valiantsin Stefanovich, a member of Viasna’s Board and former vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and Viasna human rights activist Marfa Rabkova.

This followed a meeting between US President Donald Trump’s special envoy John Coale and Aliaksandr Lukashenka in Minsk, where they discussed, among other things, the release of political prisoners. As a result of the negotiations, the Lukashenka regime pardoned 250 people as part of an agreement brokered by the United States, while 235 people were released inside the country. According to preliminary information, at least 15 pardoned political prisoners are known. They were deported to Lithuania, the US Embassy in Vilnius said.

Marfa Rabkova, coordinator of the Viasna volunteer service, has been behind bars for five and a half years. She was detained on September 17, 2020. Later, the human rights defender was charged under several articles of the Criminal Code for the events of 2016–2020 and sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment and a huge fine. Following the appeal, Marfa’s sentence was reduced by three months. Marfa’s health deteriorated greatly behind bars.

Valiantsin Stefanovich was imprisoned for more than four years and eight months. On July 14, 2021, Uladzimir Labkovich, Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich, and other Viasna human rights defenders were searched. The human rights defenders were accused of “smuggling” and “financing group actions that grossly violate public order.”

In March 2023, Judge Maryna Zapasnik sentenced the human rights defenders to long terms: Uladzimir to seven years in a penal colony, Valiantsin to nine years in a penal colony, and Ales to 10 years in a penal colony. The human rights defenders have pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them.

This information is sourced from the website of EPDE member Human Rights Centre Viasna.