It is no secret that Belarusian human rights defender Olga Karach is one of Alexander Lukashenko’s personal enemies and among the most persecuted activists in the country, and the regime’s escalating attacks on Our House and its leaders show how profoundly it fears their human rights work.

It has now become known that the apartment of Our House leader Olga Karach in Vitebsk has been arrested and confiscated by the Belarusian authorities. Personal belongings were partly seized and listed for auction, while others were looted by representatives of the KGB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The apartment itself is expected to be put up for a state auction.

These new reprisals follow a long line of actions aimed at punishing Olga Karach and all human rights defenders of Our House for their persistent work to protect Belarusians.

In July 2024, the Brest Regional Court sentenced Olga Karach in absentia to 12 years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of 600,000 Belarusian rubles (approximately 170,000 euros). The verdict entered into force in October 2024.

She was found guilty under the following articles of the Belarusian Criminal Code:
• Article 357: Conspiracy or other acts aimed at seizing state power
• Article 361-1: Creating an extremist organisation or participating in it
• Leading an “extremist formation”

Earlier the Belarusian KGB added Olga Karach to its official list of individuals allegedly involved in terrorist activities. The KGB publicly labelled her a “dangerous terrorist,” a designation frequently used by the regime to persecute political opponents and human rights activists.

In an additional act of political absurdity, she is now also subject under Belarusian law to a 17-year prohibition on military service, despite the fact that Olga Karach has never expressed any desire to serve in the Belarusian armed forces.

Propaganda efforts continue as well. On 21 July 2024, Belarusian state propagandist Igor Tur produced a television programme entitled “To Be Completed”, claiming that there were secret negotiations between Lithuania and Belarus regarding the extradition of Olga Karach. According to the propagandist, “Lithuania will extradite Olga Karach to Belarus by the beginning of 2026 at the latest, where the human rights defender will serve her full 12-year sentence.”
Lithuania has never denied the existence of such secret negotiations.

The confiscation of her apartment is the latest step in the regime’s long-running attempt to destroy Our House, intimidate its activists, and silence a woman who has spent decades defending the rights and safety of Belarusians.

The pressure continues to grow because the work of Our House continues to matter — and continues to have impact.

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