At least eight transgender individuals have been arrested, with approximately a dozen others detained in Belarus since August.
According to TG House Belarus, a transgender support organisation, the crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community started in late August and escalated significantly in early September. TG House Belarus estimates that between 15 and 20 LGBTQ+ people were detained during this time.
TG House Belarus also confirmed that among those arrested, at least eight were transgender. Many of those detained were charged with hooliganism, while two others are facing criminal charges related to the distribution of pornography.
The arrests were spread across multiple cities in Belarus. Detainees were reportedly subjected to physical violence, psychological pressure, and verbal abuse, according to the representative from TG House Belarus.
Fearing further persecution, several people have fled Belarus.
The TG House Belarus representative suggested that this crackdown is linked to an impending law targeting LGBTQ+ “propaganda,” which is currently under review. The representative explained that this began in April when the Ministry of Culture classified any form of LGBTQ+ expression as pornography.
The proposed legislation appears to align with similar measures in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin’s administration promotes so-called “traditional values.”
While homosexuality was decriminalised in Belarus in 1994, same-sex marriages remain unrecognised, and there are no anti-discrimination laws in place to safeguard the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
In its 2023 annual review, the independent gay rights organisation ILGA-Europe ranked Belarus 45th out of 49 countries in Europe and Central Asia for LGBTQ+ rights, noting frequent calls from pro-government figures for the persecution of LGBTQ+ activists and the closure of LGBTQ+ organisations.
