Tatsiana Lasitsa
human rights activist, volunteer of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, released on pardon
Date of birth: 24 November 1978
Date of detention: 21 January 2021
Charges indicted:
Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
Sentence: 2 1/2 years
Penalty: imprisonment in a general-security penal colony
Date of release: 24 September 2022
Judge: Siarhei Salouski
Prosecutor: Yauhen Fartushniak, Kiryl Vyshniakou, Iryna Kurbatskaya
Statement on the status of a political prisoner
Godparent: Kevin Kühnert, member of the German Bundestag
Tatsiana Lasitsa is a human rights activist from Rečyca, a volunteer of the Homieĺ branch of the Human Rights Center "Viasna".
Tatsiana Lasitsa was detained on January 21, 2021 at the Minsk airport by officers of the Interior Ministry.
She was named a suspect in a criminal case under Part 1 and Part 2 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). She was remanded in custody pending indictment.
On November 3, 2021, the Centraĺny District Court of Homieĺ found Tatsiana Lasitsa guilty of “organizing and preparing actions that grossly violated public order” (Part 1, Article 342 of the Criminal Code), and “training and preparing persons to participate in such actions, as well as their financing or other material support” (Part 2, Article 342 of the Criminal Code). Lasitsa was sentenced to two and a half years of imprisonment in a general-security penal colony.
On January 14, 2022, judge Mikalai Maratayeu of the Homieĺ Regional Court turned down Lasitsa's appeal, confirming the prison term.
In mid-February 2022, Tatsiana Lasitsa was transferred to penal colony No. 4 in Homieĺ.
On September 24, 2022, Lasitsa was released on pardon. She spent 20 months in custody.
“Criminal prosecution of Viasna members is not related to their work,” authorities responded to the UN request
