Belarus’ political prisoners face torture, lack of medical care, isolation – report
December 29, Pozirk. The situation of political prisoners in Belarus remains consistently critical, the Viasna Human Rights Center said in a report.
They are held in terrible conditions without quality and timely medical care, are subjected to torture and beatings and often have no contact with the outside world.
Vadzim Chraśko, Ihar Lednik, Alaksandar Kulinič and Dmitriy Shletgauer died behind bars in 2024.
Currently there are 1,265 political prisoners, including 168 women. At least 224 prisoners are “at particular risk,” according to the report.
Over 100 political prisoners have serious health issues, 11 are disabled and 16 have mental disorders.
Forty-six political prisoners are over 60, and 29 are parents of many children.
The regime is holding behind bars 175 cultural figures, 45 media professionals, more than 30 IT specialists, 20 soldiers, 17 doctors, 10 priests and believers, seven lawyers and six human rights activists.
“Today’s political prisoners include at least 30 families. This is the maximum number of families behind bars in recent years. Brothers and sisters, fathers and children and spouses are in prison,” the report stressed.
At least nine people are being held incommunicado. They are: Siarhiej Cichanoŭski, Ihar Łosik, Viktar Babaryka, Maksim Znak, Mikałaj Statkievič, Mikałaj Bańkoŭ, Alaksandar Franckievič, Andrej Navicki and Uładzimir Kniha.
Maryja Kaleśnikava spent more than 600 days incommunicado until she was allowed to meet with her father in November 2024.
Since 2020, at least 95 political prisoners have been transferred from penal colonies to prisons, and new criminal cases have been opened against 66 detainees – on charges of malicious disobedience.
Belarusian strongman pardons 20 as political arrests continue
December 28, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has signed an edict pardoning 20 more people convicted of extremism-related crimes, his press office announced today. The group includes 11 women, 14 people have chronic diseases and 10 parents (one woman has four children). …