Aliaksandr Danilevich, a Belarusian sports law specialist and CAS arbitrator, has been released after serving just over four years in prison, the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced. Arrested in Minsk in May 2022, he was sentenced in 2023 to 10 years for "calling for sanctions against Belarus and aiding extremism," a term later reduced to six years on appeal. CAS has linked his detention to his signing of a February 2022 statement calling for an end to the war in Ukraine and had described him as a political prisoner.
Belarusian CAS Arbitrator Aliaksandr Danilevich Freed After Serving Just Over Four Years
FILE PHOTO - Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko attends an event at the Gazprom Arena stadium in Saint Petersburg. (is associated with: «Sports lawyer Danilevich released from prison in Belarus») Vyacheslav Prokofiev/Kremlin/dpa
Aliaksandr Danilevich, a Belarusian sports law expert and arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), has been released from detention after serving just over four years in prison, the Lausanne-based court announced on Wednesday.
Details of the Case
Danilevich was arrested in Minsk in May 2022. In 2023 he was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of "calling for sanctions against Belarus and aiding extremism," according to CAS. That sentence was later reduced to six years on appeal, and Danilevich—who also serves as a professor of law—has now been released after serving slightly more than four years.
Professional Standing and Context
CAS described Danilevich as a successful lawyer and a CAS arbitrator since 2011, recognized for his professional reputation and achievements in sports law. The court previously linked his arrest to his decision to sign a public statement at the end of February 2022 calling for an end to the war in Ukraine and had publicly described him as a political prisoner at the time of his detention.
CAS statement: The court has noted both Danilevich's long-standing professional involvement with CAS and concerns about the political context of his arrest.
While the court's announcement provides these core facts, Danilevich's case remains a notable example of how legal professionals involved in international sports arbitration can become entangled in broader political disputes.
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