Evgeny Belyakov
Evgeny Belyakov | |
|---|---|
| Евгений Юрьевич Беляков | |
Evgeny Belyakov at the protests in Budapest, March 18, 2025 | |
| Born | 1987 Vladivostok, Russia |
| Died | 2025 (aged 37–38) Budapest, Hungary |
| Occupation | human rights activist |
| Organizations | Human Rights Watch |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | Central European University (CEU) |
| Thesis | The Problems of Dissent and Jewish Emigration in Soviet–US Détente (1968–1975) (2010) |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | CEU Democracy Institute |
Evgeny Belyakov (1987-2025) was a Russian-Hungarian human rights activist.
He published articles[1][2] criticizing the Putin regime, was an LGBT+ rights activist, protested against the Russian invasion of Ukraine,[3][4] worked at the Front Line Defenders and Human Rights Watch.[5]
Life
Evgeny Yuryevich Belyakov was born in 1987 in Vladivostok, Russia.[6][7]
His first visit to Hungary was in 2008, when Belyakov enrolled at the Central European University (CEU). His master’s thesis focused on the relationship between Jewish culture and politics in Soviet times. After earning a MA degree in comparative history of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe from CEU in 2012,[8] he worked with rights organizations in Ireland and the Czech Republic. During this period, according to Belyakov, the FSB attempted to recruit him as an informer.[3][7][6]
In 2014–2015, Belyakov was based in Moscow, Russia, as part of Human Rights Watch. He was prosecuted for participating in 2014 anti-war protests in Russia.[3][9][6]
He briefly worked at Novaya Gazeta.[3][7]
Belyakov had been living in Hungary since 2017. When the Hungarian government took a number of measures against CEU,[10] he also took part in protests in support of the university.[3][7]
In 2022, he encountered problems renewing his residence permit in Hungary and sought help from the Hungarian Helsinki Committee.[3] In January 2023, The National Directorate General for Aliens Policing (OIF) sought to deport Belyakov from Hungary, but the Administrative Chamber of the Metropolitan Court annulled an expulsion order against him, citing the risk of inhuman or degrading treatment and possible conscription if returned to Russia.[3]
During his time in Hungary, Belyakov opposed the Hungarian government's policy of restricting LGBT rights, comparing it to that of Russia.[11][12][13] In 2025, he opposed attempts to ban Budapest Pride.[14][15][16]
Since April 2025, Belyakov was working as a staff member at the CEU Democracy Institute.[8]
He died in Budapest, Hungary, in July 2025.[7][8]
References
- ^ Belyakov, Evgeny (30 September 2021). "The Magic Tricks of Russian Elections". Lefteast. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ Belyakov, Evgeny (7 April 2022). "'Bit by Bit, That's How They Got Us': I Saw Russia Erode LGBTQ+ Rights Until There Was Nothing Left". Global Citizen. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Hungarian court prevents state from deporting Russian opposition activist". telex (in Hungarian). 16 January 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ Stempler, Falyn (19 March 2025). "Major NATO country bans Pride protests in anti-LGBT law". Daily Express US. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "Evgeny Belyakov". Guernica. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ^ a b c "Poco a poco, así nos atraparon: Vi a Rusia erosionar los derechos LGBTQ+ hasta arrasarlos". Global Citizen (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Zsenya, budapesti világpolgár". Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ a b c "In Memoriam: Evgeny (Zhenya) Belyakov (1987–2025)". Central European University. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ Cooper, Tanya (15 December 2014). "License to Harm". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "CEU Responds to Proposed Amendments in Hungarian Higher Education Law | Central European University". www.ceu.edu. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "Many Hungarians spoil ballots to invalidate referendum on LGBTQ content in society". CBC. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ Press, Associated (19 March 2025). "Nueva ley de Hungría contra el colectivo LGBTQ+ prohíbe los eventos del Orgullo y desata protestas". CNN (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "'It's quite terrifying': Protests erupt in Hungary after government bans LGBT+ Pride events". Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "Pride march ban in Hungary triggers protests, EU condemnation". RFI. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ Press, Associated (20 March 2025). "Trump's Hungarian ally Orban outlaws Pride, sparking massive LGBTQ fightback". People's World. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "Hungary's new anti-LGBTQ+ law bans Pride events and sparks protests". AP News. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.