Belarus threatens to take children of political activists, says Tsikhanouskaya
mz/ej
03.01.2025, 10:59
According to Tsikhanouskaya, thousands of children in Belarus are being separated from their parents due to political repression. Photo: Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images
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Thousands of children in Belarus are at risk of being separated from their parents due to a government decision to classify political activism as a threat to child well-being, opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has said.
Under the decision by the Minsk authorities, effective January 1, a child’s well-being can be considered at risk if their parents are held administratively liable for offenses under certain sections of the Code of Administrative Offenses, independent Belarusian outlet Zerkalo.io reported.
“No child should suffer because their parents dream of freedom. Yet, thousands of children in Belarus are being separated from their parents due to political repression,” Tsikhanouskaya wrote on X.
The move has drawn sharp criticism, with reports suggesting it targets parents involved in anti-government activities.
No child should suffer because their parents dream of freedom. Yet, thousands of children in Belarus are separated from their parents due to political repression. Our office team joined the annual @stranafund Christmas Mail initiative to bring light into these children's lives.❤️ pic.twitter.com/XLRp257OFD
“The government has officially decided that families will be considered socially at risk if parents are prosecuted under numerous articles of the administrative code,” Zerkalo reported, noting these include offenses such as distributing materials deemed extremist.
Decisions to classify families as “socially dangerous” were already in practice but have now been formalized, the outlet added.
It said authorities frequently cited “improper ideological upbringing” during commission reviews of such cases.
The policy comes as Belarus prepares for presidential elections in January, where President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994 and not recognized by Western countries, plans to seek a seventh term.
