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POZIRK+Minsk: human rights exploited as tool for political pressure
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Missing opposition politician Statkievič’s health raises concerns
Mikałaj Statkievič sitting between the Belarusian and Lithuanian border checkpoints on his release from prison. He refused to leave Belarus despite authorities insisting on his deportation.
September 12, Pozirk. At a press conference in Vilnius, an associate spoke about the health of Narodnaja Hramada leader Mikałaj Statkievič, who has gone missing after refusing to leave Belarus upon his release yesterday.
Narodnaja Hramada member Siarhiej Sparyš, released the same day, said he was not worried about the social-democratic leader’s morale but was deeply concerned about his health.
“Although he looks fit, he suffers from serious arrhythmia. At times he struggles even to walk,” the activist said. “He was sent six times to the internal prison and six times to solitary confinement. Altogether, he spent two years and seven months in isolation. This is essentially murder. He contracted COVID three times, suffered a heart attack, had pneumonia once and has lived with chronic bronchitis since the 1990s.”
Mikałaj Statkievič refused deportation to Lithuania—a condition of Alaksandar Łukašenka’s deal with the Americans—and spent several hours between the Kamienny Łoh and Medininkai checkpoints. He then returned to the Belarusian side but has not come home. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
The Belarusian ruler pardoned 52 prisoners yesterday. All others have been accounted for.
Belarus frees more than 50 political prisoners
September 11, Pozirk. After today’s meeting with John Coale, US deputy special envoy to Ukraine, Alaksandar Łukašenka has pardoned more than 50 political prisoners. The Belarusian ruler’s press office said that Łukašenka pardoned “a number of foreign nationals convicted of …
