Belarusian Priest Sentenced in Secret Trial
Catholic priest Andzhei Yukhnevich, recognized as a political prisoner, was secretly tried and sentenced in Belarus to 13 years in prison.
Fr. Andzhei Yukhnevich, a Catholic priest from the Vitebsk region, was detained in May 2024 and later convicted behind closed doors in Shumilina. Human-rights groups denounce the trial as politically motivated and warn of a growing campaign against Belarusian clergy who express civic or moral independence.
Despite the absence of public evidence or a published verdict, Yukhnevich received a 13-year sentence and is now held in Babruysk Correctional Colony No. 2. His imprisonment adds to a mounting list of religious figures punished for peaceful expression, deepening concern over repression of faith and conscience in Belarus.
Human rights violation dossier: Andzhei Yukhnevich
Prepared by: International Center for Civil Initiatives “Our House”
Date: November 2025
1. Personal information
Field | Information |
|---|---|
First name, surname | Andzhei (Andzhei Maryanovich) Yukhnevich |
Current place of residence | Correctional Colony No. 2 (IK-2), Babruysk, Belarus |
Occupation | Catholic priest (Oblate of Mary Immaculate – OMI); rector of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, Shumilina, Vitebsk region |
Status | Political prisoner, recognized by human rights defenders |
2. Basic information
Catholic priest from the town of Shumilina. He was detained on May 8, 2024, and repeatedly subjected to administrative arrests (including for posting a photo with the Ukrainian and historical white-red-white Belarusian flags). A criminal case was later opened against him. On April 30, 2025, a closed-door trial in Shumilina sentenced him to 13 years of imprisonment. Belarusian human rights organizations recognized him as a political prisoner.
3. Chronology of events
May 8, 2024 – Detention.
May–June 2024 – Series of administrative arrests. After serving 45 days (by June 24), he was not released; the term was extended to July 2, 2024, allegedly for “unauthorized picketing” (photo with flags).
Second half of 2024 – Reports about transfer to pre-trial detention, harsher regime, and initiation of a criminal case.
December 27, 2024 – Closed trial announced to begin.
April 30, 2025 – Verdict: 13 years of imprisonment (the prosecution requested 15). The process was closed, and the details of the charges were not officially disclosed.
July 29, 2025 – Appeal: the Vitebsk Regional Court upheld the sentence without changes.
After April 2025 – Reports confirmed his transfer to IK-2 Babruysk, where another Catholic priest, Fr. Henrikh Okolotovich, is also serving his sentence.
Note on charges:
Some media, referring to the court schedule, stated that three Criminal Code articles “concerning relations with minors” were invoked; because of the closed process and lack of official publication of the verdict, these reports remain unverified and are presented as media claims only.
According to independent sources, the accused completely denied guilt.
4. Threats and risks
Health and safety risks: Long prison term; previously reported restrictions on food parcels and correspondence (only medicines allowed during initial detention); general isolation.
Pressure on clergy: His case occurs within a broader context of state repression against religious figures in Belarus.
5. Current legal and other status
Sentence: 13 years of imprisonment.
Recognition: Listed as a political prisoner by Belarusian human rights organizations.
Place of detention: Correctional Colony No. 2 (IK-2), Babruysk.
Conditions: Limited communication and access to legal assistance; correspondence allowed only under prison censorship.
6. What support is needed
International attention and public awareness of the case (requests for clarification on the closed trial; monitoring of detention conditions).
Legal assistance – support for appeals and international human-rights mechanisms.
Letters of support – to show solidarity and remind the prisoner that he is not forgotten.
Mailing address:
Andzhei Maryanovich Yukhnevich
Correctional Colony No. 2 (IK-2)
213800 Babruysk, Sikorsky St. 1, Belarus
Even a short letter of encouragement helps political prisoners maintain hope and dignity.
7. Conclusion
The case of Fr. Andzhei Yukhnevich is documented by Belarusian and international human rights defenders as politically motivated. It is characterized by prolonged pre-trial detention, a closed-door trial, absence of a published verdict, disproportionate punishment, and subsequent transfer to a strict-regime colony. Accurate reconstruction of the charges is impossible without access to court materials, which remain unavailable to the public.
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