The European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA) is deeply concerned about the imprisonment of several dedicated lawyers in Belarus, who have been targeted for their commitment to upholding the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and the right to legal assistance.

Vitaly Brahinets, a highly experienced criminal lawyer and member of the Minsk Regional Bar Association, Aliaksandr Danilevich, a prominent Belarusian lawyer specializing in international commercial arbitration and sports law, Maxim Znak, a lawyer associated with the Borovtsov & Salei Law Firm in Minsk, played a critical role in providing legal support to presidential candidate Viktor Babaryko, are being kept in prison.

The imprisonment of these lawyers, who worked to uphold the principles of justice, poses a grave concern. According to reports, they have faced unjust legal processes and have been deprived of their freedom for the mere act of carrying out their professional duties. The ECBA urges the Belarusian authorities to fully adhere to international human rights standards, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We demand an immediate end to the persecution of these lawyers and thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into all allegations of human rights violations. 

You can read the full Statement here.