Many ex-prisoners denied proper pension, Viasna says

July 9, Pozirk. The current pension system makes it impossible for many former prisoners to accumulate retirement benefits on an equal footing with other workers, according to the Viasna Human Rights Center.

A new study, based on testimonies by 22 former political prisoners, indicates that authorities gave little thought to the interests of ex-prisoners while reforming Belarus’ Soviet-type pension system.

In particular, the tightening of the “insurance experience” requirements means that a month of work only counts toward a pension if the worker’s pay is not below the country’s minimum wage.

Because work for inmates of correctional institutions is compulsory but compensated only at symbolic rates, often between 0.8 and 50 rubels (between $0.28 and $17.4) a month after all deductions, prisoners miss the cutoff, currently 858 rubels ($299).

Consequently, many prisoners discover upon release that their years of compulsory work did not translate into the necessary 20 years of insurance contributions, leaving them eligible only for “social” pension, which is significantly smaller than a proper labor pension.

Retirement age in Belarus currently stands at 63 years for men and 58 years for women.

Politics

Politics

Exiled dissident faces new charges in Belarus, prosecutors say

July 9, Pozirk. Belarusian law enforcers charged exiled activist Hanna Višniak with inciting hatred, facilitating extremism and insulting Alaksandar Łukašenka and other officials, the Investigative Committee has said on Telegram. Two years ago, Višniak, who had left Belarus after serving …

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