Since 2010, the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer has been observed annually on 24 January, organised by the Coalition for the Endangered Lawyer, a network of national and international legal organisations and bar associations. The day aims to draw attention to the plight faced by lawyers in the exercise of their profession in a particular country each year, and encourage action by government officials, international institutions, civil society, the media and the public.
In 2025, the Day of the Endangered Lawyer spotlights the persecution of lawyers in Belarus, who face systematic harassment and interferences with their professional activities. Following the Presidential election and mass protests in 2020, a crackdown by the government has resulted in the targeting of lawyers, journalists, human rights defenders, and dissidents. The evidence in this report indicates a persistent and troubling trend in Belarus where legal practitioners face increasing criminal sanctions, arbitrary detentions, and systemic interference in their professional duties.
Vague and over-broad national security laws have been applied to silence critics of the government and those upholding the rule of law. Thousands of people have been subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, and prosecution, and have been sentenced following unfair trials. There are also reports of widespread torture and other ill-treatment, as well as incidents of enforced disappearance.
Constitutional and legislative changes have further eroded the independence of the judiciary and legal professional bodies. Such amendments have tightened the executive branch’s control over the judiciary and the legal profession. Accordingly, the fundamental principle of the separation of powers has been extinguished.
The Ministry of Justice exerts influence over the regulation of the legal profession. The Belarus Republican Bar Association and territorial bar associations lack independence and rather than protecting and supporting their members, these associations are being used by the Ministry of Justice to crackdown on lawyers who take on human rights and politically sensitive cases. Lawyers have faced harassment, arrest, and detention, as well as disciplinary measures simply for doing their job. As well as impacting on the rights of individuals this has a chilling effect on access to justice and rule of law.
The Belarusian state’s actions contravene both national laws and international standards. This includes misusing ethical standards to sanction lawyers for their professional and public expressions, thereby stifling dissent and curbing lawful advocacy. The process of terminating a lawyer’s licence in Belarus notably lacks transparency, representation, and impartiality. The arbitrary nature of these proceedings undermines the independence of the legal profession and fosters an environment where lawyers operate under the constant threat of losing their professional status. This systemic assault is aimed at silencing the legal community and inhibiting its ability to uphold democratic principles and human rights effectively.
Details will follow soon.