Authorities release another political prisoner with cancer

August 23, Pozirk. Pavieł Kučynski, who was serving a lengthy prison term in a politically-motivated case, has been released, rights defender Alaksandar Kapucki has said on Facebook.
The 29-year-old diagnosed with an advanced stage of Hodgkin lymphoma three years ago was reportedly brought to the city hospital in his native Maładziečna, Minsk region, in a serious condition with pneumonia.
In June 2022, the man was given five years in prison on charges of threatening and insulting officials and Alaksandar Łukašenka in connection with critical online comments. The appeal court reduced the sentence only by three months.
Kučynski may need a bone marrow transplant, which was impossible in prison, doctors said earlier.
In March, the Viasna Human Rights Center issued an appeal to the United Nations special rapporteurs regarding Kučynski’s deteriorating health.
On August 16, Łukašenka signed an edict pardoning 14 women and 16 men convicted of “protest-oriented” crimes. They include seriously ill and retired people, his press office said.
Rights groups have confirmed the release of 22 of the 30 convicts, including journalist Ksienija Łuckina, trade unionist Vasil Bieraśnieŭ, Iryna Sankoŭskaja, Volha Novikava, Ała Zujeva, Volha Stabroŭskaja, Tamara Karavaj, Kaciaryna Leŭ, Natalla Piatrovič, Śviatłana Pałuektava and Jaŭhien Čumiła.
Ryhor Kastusioŭ, another cancer patient who leads the outlawed Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), was released a few weeks earlier.

EU acknowledges release of several political prisoners
- Politics, SecurityPoland arrests Belarusian national, to expel diplomatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics, SecurityHungarian foreign minister to visit Minsk on September 10The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian companies Pielenh and Lehmaš continue to manufacture goods for Russian military, BelPol saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka tells bankers to curb inflationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, Security
- EconomyŁukašenka wants tighter control over bank profitsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Politics, Security
- PoliticsKGB brands nine people as terroristsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBody of presumed irregular migrant found in Lithuania near Belarus borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka reaffirms readiness to visit North KoreaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityIrregular Belarus-EU crossings exceed 35,000 since JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁatuška disappointed Moldova’s Sandu received credentials from Belarus' envoyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: student persecuted for signing up for female leadership programThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityCzechia expels Belarusian diplomat suspected of spyingThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyRabbi from Belarus killed in Jerusalem attackThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka: losing Russia exports greatest problemThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyLabor ministry announces unlimited language test retakes for migrant workersThe material is available only to POZIRK+