Strong at the Broken Places: Women Political Prisoners in Belarus

June 11, 2026

Alyena Batura

Six years ago, beginning in May 2020, a momentous presidential election campaign in Belarus spurred unprecedented mass protests against unfair elections and state-led political violence. The government responded with an all-encompassing crackdown on freedom of expression, assembly, and association. Around the February 27, 2022 constitutional referendum, citizens protested again against Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which was aided by the Belarusian regime. According to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus, Belarusian society lives under the shadow of the August 9, 2020 election, as repression against dissent and anti-war views has continued unabated. The weaponization of anti-extremist and counter-terrorist legislation against everyday civilians has facilitated politically motivated arbitrary arrests and detentions.

This report draws on recent testimonies, independent media interviews, and human rights data to document the acute violations faced by women behind bars—including gender-based violations—while honoring their profound resilience as agents of democratic change.

Post-electoral crackdowns have occurred in other hard authoritarian regimes such as Iran, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, as well as autocratizing regimes such as Georgia. It is crucial to document the experiences of women political prisoners and other vulnerable groups in these difficult settings to better understand the societal effects of political persecution, necessary remedies, and pathways to justice and accountability.

Urgent Calls to Action for the International Community

Despite US-negotiated waves of political prisoner releases that have successfully freed several hundred detainees in the past year, more than 100 women political prisoners remain in Belarus. The report outlines critical steps for global actors:

Demand Complete Release and End Arbitrary Detentions
Provide Immediate Resettlement Resources for Exiled Prisoners
Support Civic and Professional Rehabilitation
Sustain Funding for Accountability Mechanisms

Read the Report

Resources to Support Political Prisoners

Alyena Batura is an independent expert currently serving as a non-resident affiliate scholar at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.