Belarus Intensifies Crackdown on Dissent with Raids on Exiled Opposition Activists

In a continuation of its relentless crackdown on dissent, authorities in Belarus have launched raids and seized property belonging to 104 opposition activists who fled the country after the 2020 election and subsequent mass protests.

Belarus's authoritarian regime under President Alexander Lukashenko has intensified its crackdown on dissent, targeting opposition activists who have fled the country since the disputed 2020 election. On Thursday, Belarusian authorities announced the seizure of property and criminal investigations against 104 activists for allegedly forming extremist groups and discrediting the country.

The crackdown began in August 2020, when mass protests erupted following the reelection of Lukashenko, whose victory was widely denounced as rigged. Since then, the Belarusian government has arrested over 35,000 people, brutally beaten thousands in custody, and shut down dozens of independent news organizations and human rights groups.

About 500,000 people have fled Belarus as a result of the repression, and the Belarusian government has recently targeted those living abroad who call for tougher sanctions against the country. The latest raids and property seizures are part of this effort to suppress dissent beyond Belarus's borders.

The Belarusian Investigative Committee alleges that the targeted activists have criticized Belarusian authorities abroad and organized rallies to mark the anniversary of Belarus's independence. The authorities are investigating charges of "forming an extremist group" and "discrediting Belarus," which carry potential prison sentences of up to seven years.

Authorities claim to have identified participants in rallies held in Poland, Lithuania, Belgium, Georgia, the Czech Republic, the U.S., and other countries on March 25, which commemorates the first declaration of Belarusian independence in 1918.

Investigative Committee spokesman Sergei Kabakovich described the activists as "fugitive puppets" and accused them of "calling for economic and political pressure on our country."

Belarus's opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, condemned the raids and seizures as "the authorities' revenge on Belarusians who continue to fight the dictatorship." She noted that the government is attempting to spread fear among Belarusians both within and outside the country.

Viasna, Belarus's oldest and most prominent human rights group, has documented nearly 1,400 political prisoners in Belarus, including its founder, Ales Bialiatski, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.

The ongoing crackdown in Belarus has drawn international condemnation, with the United States and the European Union imposing sanctions on Lukashenko's regime. However, the Belarusian authorities have shown no signs of relenting in their suppression of dissent, continuing to target anyone who voices opposition to their rule.