Political prisoner faces new criminal charge

May 18, BPN. Alieh Rubiec, 20, a resident of Pinsk, Brest region, serving a 5.5-year sentence at Navapolack Penal Colony No. 1 for participating in post-election protests, faces a new criminal charge, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

He has been charged with malicious disobedience to the administration of the correctional facility. The administration wants him to be transferred from the penal colony to a closed (higher security) prison. Human rights defenders declared Rubiec a political prisoner.

On February 26, two days before his birthday, Rubiec was placed in a punishment cell for 40 days. The penal colony administration prohibited him from receiving parcels, making phone calls, and having visits.

As of May 18, human rights defenders declared a total of 1,192 people political prisoners.