March 5, Pozirk. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has expressed her condolences on the death of Alena Pankova, 54, to her family and the 18-year-old son in a Telegram post.
“Alena was convicted over her participation in protests and served a ‘house arrest’ sentence [restricted freedom term in home confinement], with a strict daily schedule and under constant supervision,” the politician said.
“It is often difficult to do even the simplest things while under ‘house arrest’, including taking care of your health, because you must ask for permission and coordinate every step, even for a routine visit to the doctor. It is hard to imagine, but this is what everyday life looks like for people who are punished for their civic stance,” she added.
Pankova, a geographer by training, died in February after being convicted on protest-related charges last summer, Naša Niva reported yesterday. The cause of death remains unknown.
Last year, officials also blacklisted Pankova as a “person involved in extremist activities.”
Authorities in Belarus have equated criticism, solidarity, advocacy, free media and freedom of expression with extremism and terrorism amid an ongoing crackdown on regime critics that began after the 2020 post-election protests.
