Azarau Shared His Version of the "BYPOL Case," in Which Three Belarusians Received Sentences from 17 to 25 Years

On October 26, the Minsk Regional Court sentenced three Belarusians: Yury Vasileuski received 17 years in prison, Henadz Ageyeu — 21 years, Ivan Balashenka — 25 years.

They were accused under nine serious articles of the Criminal Code: from "treason" and participation in a "terrorist organization" to preparation and attempted "act of terrorism," illegal actions with weapons, and attempts to damage transport or communication routes.

The trial was held in closed session, so what exactly the men did and on what evidence the verdicts were based is unknown. The connection of the case with BYPOL was mentioned by former cellmates of the defendants.

Павялічыць

BYPOL head Aliaksandr Azarau told "Nasha Niva" his version of who could have contacted the convicted individuals.

Detention in Crimea and Torture

Most is known about 32-year-old Henadz Ageyeu — a former security officer from the Brest region. In February 2024, he was detained in Russian-occupied Crimea as he was returning to Belarus.

According to the account of Ageyeu's former cellmate, the man said he had traveled to Crimea allegedly on the assignment of Aliaksandr Azarau. For about seven months, the Belarusian was held in the Simferopol FSB pre-trial detention center along with Ukrainian prisoners of war. There, he was allegedly beaten and tortured. During all this time, his relatives did not know his whereabouts.

In September 2024, Ageyeu was handed over to Belarus. According to the testimony of his former cellmate, he was transported for almost a day with a bag over his head, and documents regarding the time spent in the Russian pre-trial detention center were not handed over.

Aliaksandr Azarau had previously denied that he sent Henadz Ageyeu to Crimea. He claimed that BYPOL generally does not give Belarusians assignments outside the country, and promised to find out who might have contacted the man on behalf of the organization.

Now Azarau stated that it could be about a former BYPOL employee whom he calls Vital D.

"Acted Without the Organization's Knowledge"

According to Azarau, some time ago, relatives of one of the case's defendants contacted BYPOL with a request to help find their relative, who had disappeared and was believed to have been in contact with the organization.

After an internal investigation, BYPOL found out that Vital D. might have been in contact with Belarusian activists.

"Despite the organization's interests and goals, and despite an existing ban, he secretly contacted Belarusian activists on behalf of BYPOL and gave them various assignments that had no relation to the organization's activities," states Aliaksandr Azarau.

According to him, Vital D. was fired in the first half of 2024 for actions that "discredited the organization," as well as for complaints against its head to various Belarusian democratic structures.

Aliaksandr Azarau claims that even after his dismissal, the man continued to introduce himself as a BYPOL employee, and later called himself an employee of the Coordination Council and emphasized his close acquaintance with its then-speaker, Anzhalika Melnikava.

In confirmation, Aliaksandr Azarau recounts Melnikava's own words: she allegedly said that Vital is actively working, attending international events, taking photos with famous people, and "is currently afloat."

"BYPOL Has Never Sent Belarusians Outside the Country to Perform Any Tasks"

Aliaksandr Azarau insists that neither BYPOL nor he personally are involved in the actions for which three Belarusians were convicted.

"Belarus' national interests have always been and remain our priority. Every activist, every Belarusian capable of benefiting their country, is important to us. That is why BYPOL has never sent Belarusians outside the country to perform any tasks," he says.

According to Aliaksandr, the organization has repeatedly warned that contact should only be made through official channels, and urged not to trust people who introduce themselves as BYPOL employees but make contact through other means.

The head of BYPOL does not rule out that the account of one of the detainees' cellmates could be the result of a special services operation, in which a person, after release, disseminates pre-prepared information with the aim of discrediting certain individuals. Therefore, Azarau demands that the case stop being linked to BYPOL.

"I have never hidden behind others' backs and have always responded to opponents based on facts. I am not going to be responsible for actions I did not commit, and I will no longer allow myself to be used as a cover."

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