KGB recruits political prisoners released on pardon – activists

September 28, Pozirk. The Committee for State Security (KGB) forcibly recruits former political prisoners on a mass scale, the Dissidentby human rights group reported yesterday.
The report concerns those released on pardon in 2024. Agents “insist that they sign a number of papers and agree to star in propaganda videos, and also forbid them to leave the country.”
The committee threatens new charges and pressure on families to coerce them into spying on the pro-democracy movement, according to the report. The KGB tells them to contact foundations and other groups with the purpose of extracting any information that can damage the opposition, it added.
Often, agents install spyware on their mobile phones “enabling regime agents to carry out intelligence activities online.”
Alaksandar Łukašenka has pardoned 115 people since July 3.
On August 16, he signed an edict pardoning 37 people sentenced for “extremist” crimes. Similarly, 30 people were pardoned on September 4 and 30 more on August 16.
In early July, human rights defenders reported the release of 18 political prisoners after Łukašenka had announced a pardon for his critically-ill opponents.
According to Supreme Court Chairman Valancin Sukała, 14 were released after the aforementioned announcement.
Today, there are 1,329 designated political prisoners in Belarus.
Seven more political prisoners added to Viasna list




- SocietyState-funded IVF program results in 2,975 pregnancies since 2021The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, PoliticsProsecutor says Germany shares archival documents in genocide probeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsGhana’s envoy presents copies of his credentials to Belarus' top diplomatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus to open embassy in North Korea by August 1The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsYouTube deletes Belarusian propaganda channel five days after launchThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyBelarusian expat community in Lithuania shrinks by 21 percent since 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SocietyRights lawyer calls for promoting Belarusian non-discrimination terminologyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyŁatuška sets up award to encourage Belarusian-language instruction in school in eastern PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyRubel rises against US dollar, weakens against euro on April 8The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelGee car plant reports 7.8-percent rise in productionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyMarriages on the rise in Belarus in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyIAEA to perform in-depth assessment of Belarus’ nuclear plantThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsHuman rights defenders report many new cases of politically motivated persecutionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMaduro’s arrest came as major blow to Łukašenka, Cichanoŭskaja saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNorth Korean ambassador presents copies of credentials to Belarus' foreign ministerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus introduces licenses for import of lead batteries from non-EAEC countriesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsTrump would be worthy of Nobel prize if sets all Belarusian prisoners free, Cichanoŭskaja saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyLithuanian border guards intercept 11th drone with smuggled cigarettes this yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+