On August 29, 2025, Belarusian authorities escalated their campaign against the legal profession by designating the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers (BAHRL) an “extremist formation.” This move threatens members and associates with up to 10 years in prison for alleged affiliation.
BAHRL, formed by exiled lawyers stripped of their licenses, has worked to defend fair trial rights, expose repression, and advocate for the independence of the legal profession. Despite this, the Ministry of Internal Affairs added BAHRL and six lawyers—including some not even affiliated with the group, such as Dmitri Laevski—to its national “extremist activities” list.
Since the 2020 mass protests over fraudulent elections, the government has targeted lawyers representing political defendants or criticizing rights abuses. Many have faced license revocations, raids, fines, and arrests. Currently, seven lawyers remain imprisoned on fabricated charges.
The Ministry of Justice has spent the past five years eroding the bar’s independence, turning it into a tool of state control. Human rights advocates warn that this latest step represents a deeper assault on the rule of law and access to justice in Belarus.