political prisoners in Belarus
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Articles
Who speaks Belarusian? It depends on who you ask
The International Mother Language Day, celebrated annually on February 21, invites us to reflect on the languages we speak, but also those we don’t speak, and, most importantly, why this…
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Articles
Administrator of railroad workers’ online community blackmailed
An administrator of a railroad workers' Telegram channel says that Belarusian special services blackmail him. They offer to release his 15-year-old brother who has been recently detained in Belarus in…
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Viasna
Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski gives final speech in court
The trial in the criminal case against Nobel laureate and chairperson of the Viasna Human Rights Center Ales Bialiatski, his deputy and International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) vice-president Valiantsin…
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News
Prison sentences for rail guerrillas
Three rail guerrillas from Babruisk were sentenced to prison term: Dzmitry Klimau and Uladzimir Auramtsau received 22 years in a penal colony each, and Yauhen Minkevich was sentenced to 18…
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News
At least 58 Belarusians detained at border when entering Belarus
The Viasna Human Rights Center tells why law enforcement agencies prosecute Belarusians returning home from abroad, what kinds of sentences the detainees receive, and what conditions people who'd like to…
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News
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya “tried” in absentia in Belarus
On January 17, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and other defendants in the Coordination Council case Maryia Maroz, Pavel Latushka, Volha Kavalkova, and Siarhei Dyleuski went on "trial" in absentia. They are charged…
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News
Sofia Sapega’s request for pardon denied
The political prisoner Sofia Sapega's request for a pardon passed the first stage of the pardon process but was rejected by the commission for pardons under Lukashenko. In May 2022,…
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News
Rail guerrilla shot in knees during arrest, sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment
Belarusian Vital Melnik, recognized as a political prisoner, was sentenced to 13 years in a maximum security penal colony and property confiscation. In addition, he has to pay a fine…
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News
Belarusian political prisoners in 2022: Infographics
The repressive totalitarian regime in Belarus has been working hard to stamp out any dissent. In 2022, politically motivated detentions and torture continued, new criminal cases were opened, and the…
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News
Maria Kalesnikava has been in hospital for over one month
According to the information the Viasna Human Rights Center received from other prisoners, Maria is yet to be transferred from the hospital back to the Homel penal colony: "As of…