For every 9 released, 10 new political prisoners appear
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Thesis of the Speech by Pavel Latushka, leader of the “Latushka’s Team and Movement ‘For Freedom’” faction, delegate of the Coordination Council to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, during the meeting of the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
30 September 2025
Dear Mr. Chair, Dear Ms. Dulina, Madam Special Rapporteur, Mr. Petru, Dear colleagues,
The situation of political prisoners in Belarus is a tragedy that continues to unfold before our very eyes, despite recent attempts by the Lukashenko regime to disguise repression as reform and mercy.
Let me begin with the facts, without emotion. On 3 June 2025, according to the Human Rights Center Viasna, there were 1,183 political prisoners in Belarus. On 21 June, Lukashenko released Siarhei Tsikhanouski along with 13 others. On 2 July, he allegedly pardoned another 16. On 11 September, he released 52 more — although one of them Mikalai Statkevich was immediately rearrested because he refused to leave Belarus.
And yet, as of today, the total number of political prisoners stands at 1,201 (30.09.2025). Since the so-called release of Mr.Tsikhanouski, the number of political prisoners has actually grown by 18. To put it simply: for every 9 released, 10 new people are put behind bars. It is worth noting that according to dissident.by the number of political prisoners is even higher, 1336. This is not reform or mercy. This is a conveyor belt of repression. There is no change in policy.
The regime of Lukashenko continues its campaign of repression. According to the human rights organization Viasna, at least 950 people have been convicted on politically motivated criminal charges since the beginning of this year. There have been over 2,100 instances of criminal and administrative persecution. The list of so-called “extremists” has grown by 960 individuals, and 74 new entities have been added to the list of “extremist formations.”
The regime is not only intensifying its internal repression but also expanding its extraterritorial persecution of Belarusians abroad — including members of the Coordination Council and the Belarusian delegation to the PACE. Since the start of the year, the Lukashenko regime has opened at least 970 criminal cases against Belarusians living primarily in Poland and Lithuania.
Secondly, those who are released are in fact not free. Their release is conditioned on forced expulsion from Belarus. How are these so-called “liberations” carried out?
Prisoners have bags placed over their heads.
They are transported to the border.
They are expelled without passports, making it technically impossible to return.
Expulsion is exercised with no regard for relatives left in Belarus. Families are separated.
This is not liberation. It is the physical deportation of a persecuted group of the civilian population of Belarus for political reasons. It is also an act of persecution — one of many extraterritorial crimes against humanity committed by Lukashenko and his senior political and military leadership.
And what happens if a prisoner refuses to leave? The case of Mikalai Statkevich is telling. He insisted on staying in Belarus. Lukashenko did not allow him to remain free — he was immediately thrown back into prison.This demonstrates that persecuted individuals have no genuine choice: either leave their country under duress or return to prison.
Colleagues, I must therefore ask: is it even correct to speak of these events as “releases”? In reality, what we are witnessing is not liberation but another form of cruelty, a mockery of justice and of human dignity. To call these expulsions “releases” is like calling exile a gift, or chains a form of protection.
Let us be clear: Lukashenko is not changing course. He is refining his machinery of repression. Every so-called concession is paired with a greater act of injustice. Every alleged gesture of mеrcy masks another crime.
We must not be deceived. The only path forward is unwavering pressure until every political prisoner in Belarus is unconditionally and genuinely free, in their own country, with their families, and with their rights restored. Until a genuine change in internal policy.
In the end I would like to note that on this very day, exactly one year ago, the Government of Lithuania referred to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court the request to investigate crimes against humanity committed extraterritorially by the Lukashenko regime. The Office of the Prosecutor is now conducting a preliminary examination of this situation. Today, more than ever, supporting this process is crucial. All victims are entitled to justice. Restoring their rights is not only a legal necessity, it is our common moral duty.
Thank you!