Belarus Weekly: European Parliament calls for special tribunal for Putin, Lukashenko

The week marks the 160th anniversary of the 1863 uprising against Russian imperial rule.

The January uprising led by Kastus Kalinouski was an attempt to re-establish a joint Polish, Lithuanian, and Belarusian independent state.

The most prominent Belarusian military formation fighting for Ukraine bears his name.

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claims Ukraine offered to sign a non-aggression pact. Ukraine responded by saying it never planned aggression in the first place.

More Belarusian railway saboteurs arrested

Three more Belarusian activists who were arrested for having disrupted the transit of Russian troops and equipment toward Ukraine have gone to trial in the city of Mahiliou.

According to human rights watchdog Viasna, the closed trials of Dzmitryi Klimau, Uladzimir Auramtsau, and Yauhen Minkevich began on Jan. 23. They are charged with treason and participating in "extremist activities."

At the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Belarusian activists attempted to disrupt the transit of Russian supplies and personnel toward Ukraine.

The activists' actions are said to have helped thwart the Russian attack through Belarusian territory.

European Parliament calls for special tribunal for Putin, Lukashenko

The European Parliament, on Jan. 19, voted for the creation of a special tribunal that could prosecute Putin and Lukashenko for crimes of aggression against Ukraine.

The European Parliament noted that the tribunal "must have jurisdiction to investigate not only Vladimir Putin and the political and military leadership of Russia, but also Aliaksandr Lukashenka and his cronies in Belarus."

The vast majority of lawmakers backed the non-binding resolution.

President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the announcement, calling on "all our partners to support such a tribunal."

Wife of jailed journalist sentenced to two years in prison

Belarusian authorities sentenced Darya Losik, the wife of jailed journalist Ihar Losik, to two years in prison following an interview where she said her husband was illegally convicted.

The Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office claimed that Darya "positioned herself as the wife of a 'political prisoner'" in her interview with independent broadcaster Belsat, which Minsk has labeled an "extremist group."

Darya was convicted of facilitating so-called "extremist activity" one day after the trial started.

Ihar Losik, a freelance writer for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and the author of a Telegram channel that was the mouthpiece for political protests in 2020, was earlier sentenced to 16 years in prison.

In July 2022, Losik was labeled a "terrorist" by the state.

Ihar and Darya Losik have a four-year-old daughter, Polina, who is reportedly staying with Darya's parents.

Belarusian musician taken to trial for singing Ukrainian song

Belarusian singer Meryem Herasimenka is on trial in Minsk.

She was detained in August 2022 for performing a song by Ukrainian band Okean Elzy on Minsk's Zybitskaya Street.

Herasimenka was accused of "actively participating in groups that grossly violate public order." If convicted, the singer could face up to four years in jail.

Belarusian law enforcement also published a recording in 2022 in which she is shown confessing to participating in the protests that followed the fraudulent 2020 Belarusian presidential elections and donating to Ukraine's military.

Following her detention in 2022, Belarusian authorities reportedly arrested several street performers.