Opposition activist’s fate surrounded by mystery

September 1, BPN. Opposition activist Jana Pinčuk has been extradited from Russia to Belarus, Telegram channel Free Jana Pinčuk! reported on September 1.

According to the channel, the woman was in Smolensk, western Russia, on August 30, and is now in Viciebsk.

There are conflicting reports about Pinčuk’s fate. On August 9, Russian Telegram channel SOTA reported that the activist was already in Belarus.

Pinčuk is a Belarusian national who lived in Russia. She was arrested in St Petersburg in November 2021.

In March 2022, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office decided to extradite the woman to Belarus at the request of the Belarusian authorities. In June 2022, the St Petersburg City Court recognized this decision as lawful.

The UN Human Rights Committee called on Russia to suspend the extradition while the international body is considering the detainee’s complaint.

In Belarus, Pinčuk may be imprisoned for allegedly administering the Viciebsk 97 Percent Telegram channel, branded by the authorities as extremist.

Human rights groups say her persecution is politically motivated.