A Catholic priest in Belarus, Rev. Henrykh Akalatovich, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for high treason, marking the first case of politically-motivated charges against Catholic clergy in Belarus since the country gained independence after the Soviet Union’s collapse. This conviction comes amid the Belarusian government’s intensifying crackdown on dissent in the lead-up to the January 26 presidential election, which is expected to secure a seventh term for authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Rev. Akalatovich, 64, was arrested in November 2023 after voicing his criticism of the government in his sermons. Despite being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing surgery shortly before his arrest, Akalatovich has been held incommunicado. Prison authorities have reportedly denied him basic necessities like warm clothing and food sent by supporters.
Human rights group Viasna has condemned the sentencing, listing Akalatovich as one of the 1,265 political prisoners in the country. Pavel Sapelka of Viasna stated that the harsh sentence aims to intimidate other clergy ahead of the elections. Since the controversial 2020 election, which was marred by claims of fraud, Belarus has seen mass protests and a brutal government crackdown, particularly targeting religious leaders who supported the opposition.
This case highlights ongoing repression in Belarus, with authorities making clear their efforts to silence dissent within religious communities. The ruling also draws attention to the broader context of religious persecution and political suppression under Lukashenko’s regime.