A 71-year-old Catholic priest in Belarus was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Monday after being convicted of high treason for criticizing the government. The sentencing of Rev. Henrykh Akalatovich marks the first time since Belarus gained independence in 1991 that a Catholic clergy member has faced politically-driven charges.
The conviction comes amid a broader crackdown on dissent by Belarusian authorities ahead of the January 26 presidential election, widely expected to secure a seventh term for President Alexander Lukashenko.
The Viasna Human Rights Center reported that Akalatovich, 64, denied the treason charges. The organization has listed him among the 1,265 political prisoners currently held in Belarus.
“For the first time since the fall of the Communist regime, a Catholic priest in Belarus was convicted on criminal charges typically used against political prisoners,” said Viasna representative Pavel Sapelka. “The harsh sentence aims to intimidate and silence hundreds of other priests ahead of the January presidential election.”
Akalatovich, from the town of Valozhyn in western Belarus, has been in custody since November 2023. Diagnosed with cancer, he underwent surgery shortly before his arrest. Authorities have reportedly denied him access to warm clothing and food sent by supporters, keeping him incommunicado since his detention.
He is one of dozens of clergy members — Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant — who have been jailed, silenced, or exiled for opposing Lukashenko’s government. Clergy who criticized the disputed 2020 election, which gave Lukashenko a sixth term amid allegations of fraud, were particularly targeted. The government has since conducted a sweeping crackdown, arresting more than 65,000 people and violently suppressing mass protests.
Religious leaders who supported protesters or offered refuge in their churches were singled out for repressive measures. Authorities have closely monitored sermons, conducted political “preventive” talks with clergy, and scrutinized their online activities.
Belarus has a predominantly Orthodox Christian population, making up about 80%, while Catholics represent just under 14%, and Protestants account for around 2%.
Lukashenko, in power for nearly 30 years, has described himself as an “Orthodox atheist” and has criticized clergy members who oppose his regime. During the 2020 protests, he urged them to “do their jobs” and refrain from political activism.
The Belarusian president remains a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, allowing Russian forces to use Belarusian territory to launch attacks on Ukraine and hosting Russian tactical nuclear weapons.
