Prominent opposition activist Šarenda-Panasiuk released

February 1, Pozirk. Belarusian authorities have released Palina Šarenda-Panasiuk, an activist of the European Belarus civil campaign, her husband Andrej Šarenda said.
“Palina has walked free after her fourth term ended. Four years and one month behind bars,” he said on Facebook this morning.
The Belarusian opposition leader, Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, welcomed the release. “She lost her health but never her principles. We must keep fighting for those still unjustly imprisoned,” she tweeted.
Šarenda-Panasiuk had been in prison since January 3, 2021.
Six months after her arrest, a Brest court sentenced her to two years in prison for violence against a police officer and insults against the head of state and an official.
Furthermore, in April 2022, October 2023 and October 2024 she was found guilty of disobeying prison authorities. Justices additionally sentenced her to three years and one day behind bars.
The authorities have released her now and not later since they count each day she spent at a pre-trial detention center as one and a half days in prison.
In March 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women called on the authorities to take urgent measures to protect Šarenda-Panasiuk. It was the first such action against Belarus.
The next day, the state television channel Belarus 1 aired an interview with the political prisoner, in which she said she had asked Alaksandar Łukašenka for pardon.
Human rights activists reported that the authorities could release Šarenda-Panasiuk on May 21, but authorities filed a third disobedience case against her instead.
Andrej Šarenda, who fled the country with their two children, reported a sharp deterioration in his wife’s condition, diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis – “a severe disease that requires a strict diet and constant medical supervision.”

Šarenda-Panasiuk's appeal against sentence rejected
- Politics, SecurityZapad-2025 drills posed no threat to Lithuania – NausėdaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsJournalist Siemčanka moves from Belarus to WarsawThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus sees industrial dip, retail surge in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsAmnesty demands immediate disclosure of Statkievič’s whereaboutsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsTatarynovič elected as deputy chairman of upper houseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security, SocietyLower house moves to criminalize unauthorized drone possessionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus’ chief investigator, China’s public security minister discuss cooperationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka denies Belarus’ involvement in drone incursions into PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityZapad-2025: soldiers trained to fight drones, armed groups, storm settlementsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics
- Politics
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka slams Warsaw for closing Belarus borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFreed Belarusian Greens leader wants to cooperate with Lithuanian politiciansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: released dissidents share stories of ill-treatment in prisonsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuanian Seimas speaker pledges support for Belarusian oppositionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, Security
- Politics, SecurityLatvian lawmakers say no need for immediate border closureThe material is available only to POZIRK+