More than 70 European artists and film directors have signed an open letter urging Serbia not to extradite a Belarusian filmmaker, Andrei Hniot, to Belarus. Hniot is a prominent critic of the authoritarian government in Minsk and is wanted in his home country for alleged tax evasion.
The letter, released on Monday, highlighted concerns that Hniot could face imprisonment, torture, and even the death penalty if extradited to Belarus. Among the signatories are notable figures such as French actress Juliette Binoche, Belarusian Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich, and Russian theater director Kirill Serebrennikov.
Hniot, known for documenting the mass protests against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed reelection in 2020, fled to Serbia to avoid persecution. However, he was arrested at Belgrade airport last year based on an Interpol warrant issued at the request of Belarusian authorities.
Despite contesting the extradition ruling in Serbian courts, Hniot's final appeal is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday. He has expressed fears that returning to Belarus would result in severe repercussions due to his activism against the Lukashenko regime.
International organizations, including Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have joined the call to prevent Hniot's extradition, citing concerns about human rights violations in Belarus. The Belarusian Independent Film Academy and prominent filmmakers like Agnieszka Holland have emphasized the potential risks Hniot faces if sent back to Belarus.
Belarus has been under scrutiny for political repressions, with over 65,000 individuals reportedly subjected to such measures since 2020. The country's oldest human rights group, Viasna, has identified 1,372 political prisoners currently held in Belarus, including its founder Ales Bialiatski, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
With the fate of Andrei Hniot hanging in the balance, the international community continues to advocate for his safety and well-being, urging Serbia to reconsider the extradition request in light of the potential dangers he may face in Belarus.
