Court proceedings initiated for Alexandra Gerasimeni and Alexander Opekin over alleged criminal charges
Belarusian Sports Solidarity Fund Leaders Facing Criminal Charges
The Belarusian Sports Solidarity Fund (BYSOL), an organization aimed at providing support to repressed Belarusians, political prisoners, refugees, and volunteers, has been at the centre of a criminal investigation. The fund, created by athletes who disagreed with the official authorities of Belarus following the 2020 elections, is under scrutiny for its alleged role in spreading false information and fabrications about events in Belarus.
Alexandra Gerasimenya, the former head of the fund, and her deputy, Alexander Opaykin, are charged with incitement to sanctions and actions aimed at harming the national security of Belarus. The special production in the criminal case against Gerasimenya and Opaykin was conducted with the consent of the Prosecutor General based on the decision of the chairman of the Investigative Committee.
The Sports Solidarity Fund, which includes representatives of various sports, most of whom have moved to live abroad, was created in August 2020. Through this organization, Gerasimenya and Opaykin allegedly spread false information and fabrications about events in Belarus before and after the presidential elections. They also called for the exclusion of Belarusian national team athletes from competitions, including the Olympic Games, under the national flag, and offered them financial support to prepare abroad.
These actions led to the cancellation of several sports events and caused damage to the national security of Belarus in political and social spheres, with an estimated material damage exceeding Br800,000. A list of 13 individuals, including Gerasimenya, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Pavel Latushko, and Dmitry Navosha, have been identified for trial in absentia.
The Belarusian authorities announced the initiative to hold "absentee trials" for those who left the country in May 2022. The suspects called on states, organizations, and legal entities to impose sanctions on the National Olympic Committee of Belarus and other sports organizations, and to refuse sponsorship for international competitions, including the World Hockey Championship.
New legal norms allow for the confiscation of property from convicted individuals who have left Belarus. However, it is unclear whether these norms will be applied in this case. Gerasimenya recently left her position in the organization, but is still facing a criminal case.
BYSOL served as a solidarity platform mobilizing resources to support Belarusian athletes, activists, volunteers, media, and families affected by authoritarian repression and the war in Ukraine, blending sports solidarity with broader human rights and humanitarian aid. The General Prosecutor's Office has forwarded the criminal case against Gerasimenya and Opaykin to court. The trial is expected to shed more light on the activities of the Sports Solidarity Fund and its impact on Belarusian politics and sports.
- The criminal charges facing Alexandra Gerasimenya, former head of the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Fund (BYSOL), and her deputy, Alexander Opaykin, include incitement to sanctions and actions aimed at harming the national security of Belarus, due to their alleged spreading of false information and fabrications about events in Belarus, particularly in the context of politics and sports.
- The trial of Gerasimenya and Opaykin, along with other individuals such as Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Pavel Latushko, and Dmitry Navosha, in absentia, will likely provide insight into the role of the Sports Solidarity Fund and its influence on Belarusian politics, sports, and general news, as the organization is under scrutiny for its activities and the impact it had on national security.
