The Lukashenka regime in Belarus has announced its plans to sign bilateral extradition agreements with nine countries: Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Brazil, Cambodia, and Nicaragua, as well as with South Africa, Korea (unspecified which one), and Sri Lanka. The Belarusian Parliament also ratified a similar agreement with Pakistan yesterday.
Comment by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau:
“In countries governed by the rule of law, such agreements are generally welcomed and aimed at ensuring justice by preventing impunity for crimes. However, the regime’s plans raise serious concerns, as these extradition agreements will likely be used as tools for a new wave of repression. Under the guise of combating crime, the regime will attempt to legitimize transnational persecution of political opponents, activists, and journalists labeled as ‘criminals’ for dissenting views.
The regime first forcibly expelled tens of thousands of citizens through torture, criminal prosecution, and intimidation. Now it is trying to reach them abroad – including through bilateral extradition agreements and channels such as Interpol, particularly in countries with weak legal systems. This is a classic case of double victimization: first in Belarus, then in exile.
For Belarusians in exile, these developments represent a potential expansion of the list of countries that are no longer safe to travel to.
We will certainly inform our international partners and relevant organizations about the potential risks of bilateral extradition agreements being used for politically motivated persecution”.
