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
- PoliticsAt least 100,000 people persecuted Belarus, rights advocate saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security, SocietyPolice to hold drills in Viciebsk, RečycaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security, SocietyChild wounded in drone attack leaves intensive careThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyMotor fuel prices to rise slightly after being unchanged for 11 monthsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEleven more political prisoners identifiedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyUzbek president to visit Minsk in early JulyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, Security
- Economy
- Politics, Security, SocietyRussian investigators blame Ukrainian military for drone attack on Belarusian busThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka announces meeting with Putin, long business trip to undisclosed locationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityEnvoy on Zelensky’s ultimatum: Ukraine can no longer ignore BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Society
- Politics, SecurityCoordination Council urges Belarusians to avoid travel to RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLithuania reports spike in irregular crossings via Belarus on June 22The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals target audiences of independent media outletsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFormer Polish President Duda promises continued support for BelarusiansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUN Human Rights Council to debate Belarus report next MondayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKGB adds 21 to list of “terrorists”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus should not be forgotten, PACE president saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+



