On September 9, human rights lawyer Dmitri Laevski was sentenced by the Minsk City Court to three years in prison on charges of “aiding an extremist organization” and “discrediting” Belarus. Laevski, who has represented high-profile political prisoners including opposition politician Viktar Babaryka and lawyer Maksim Znak, faced prosecution in a trial that began on September 2.
Charges and Prosecution Arguments
According to the prosecution, Laevski “knowingly spread false information” about Belarus by giving nine interviews to seven independent media outlets. In these interviews, he commented on his own disbarment, discussed trials and criminal cases involving Babaryka and Znak, and addressed the treatment of lawyers who represent political prisoners. Court records indicate that Laevski delivered all nine interviews prior to the government classifying those media outlets as “extremist.” Furthermore, the prosecution presented no evidence during the trial demonstrating that any of Laevski’s statements were false.
Authorities officially opened a criminal case against Laevski in August 2025, according to Yauheni Pylchanka, a former colleague of Laevski. The specific charge of “aiding extremism” stemmed directly from an interview Laevski gave to Radio Liberty in June 2021 regarding Babaryka’s trial. Belarusian authorities subsequently banned Radio Liberty as an “extremist” organization in December 2021, half a year after the interview took place.
Disbarment and Prior Representation
The Minsk City Bar Association disbarred Laevski in July 2021, an action widely viewed as a reprisal for providing legal assistance to political prisoners and speaking publicly on human rights issues.
This prosecution is not the first time Laevski has faced legal pressure for his work representing political figures. In 2011 and 2012, he represented Ales Bialiatski, a prominent human rights defender and co-laureate of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. Bialiatski condemned the September 9 verdict against Laevski, stating that the attorney was punished for loving his country.
Broader Context of Repression
The trial against Laevski forms part of a systematic crackdown on the legal community in Belarus. At least six other lawyers remain behind bars, while dozens of others have lost their professional licenses on politically motivated grounds.
