Vasil Verameichyk, a citizen of Belarus who formerly fought in the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, has been extradited from Vietnam. Mr. Verameichyk participated in the 2020 protests in Belarus, after which he moved to Ukraine, where he served as the Deputy Commander of the Volat Battalion. In 2024, having completed his service, he was elected to the Coordination Council and co-founded the Association of Belarusian Veterans.
Vasil Verameichyk’s extradition is a direct consequence of the repressive policies pursued by the Lukashenka regime as it continues to target opponents and extend repression to the international level. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office insists on the urgent need to strengthen international human rights mechanisms to protect not only Belarusians fleeing persecution but also the people defending Europe’s future by fighting alongside Ukraine.
We call on the international community to:
- Revise approaches to processing applications for international protection, focusing on an individualized analysis of each case;
- Sever cooperation with the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Belarus;
- Suspend bilateral agreements on extradition and legal assistance with the Republic of Belarus.
Given the potential operations of the Lukashenka regime’s security services, we strongly urge all Belarusians living abroad to exercise extreme caution and vigilance. To minimize the risk of your extradition, consult the website pashpart.org and verify which countries may be unsafe for Belarusians facing persecution by the regime.
