Prisoner Mikałaj Kazłoŭ re-elected United Civil Party chairman

November 6, BPN. Mikałaj Kazłoŭ, widely regarded as a political prisoner, was re-elected chairman of the United Civic Party (UCP), with Uładzimir Šancaŭ and Hanna Krasulina, the spokeswoman for the Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, becoming his deputies. These decisions were taken at UCP’s 21st convention in Minsk on November 6, the party’s press office reported.

Kazłoŭ has led the party since 2018. He was elected for a third two-year term.

Hienadź Anańjeŭ was named chairman of the UCP’s central control and revision commission. The party also elected a new political council and a national committee.

Delegates adopted a resolution demanding that the authorities stop the crackdown and release political prisoners.

“We call on [the government] <…> to stop reprisals against the Belarusian citizens who disagree with the current policies, advocate fair and free elections in Belarus and oppose the war,” the document reads.

The participants suggested that the authorities could “follow the example of Kazakhstan and release all the Belarusian citizens detained or convicted for political reasons, without exception.” It called on them “to stop Belarus’ complicity in Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine.”

The UCP expects the international community to make further efforts aimed at freeing political prisoners and ending the crackdown.

On November 3, a district court in Minsk sentenced Kazłoŭ to two-and-a-half years in prison. UCP Minsk chapter head Aksana Alaksiejeva was sentenced to one-and-a-half years, and former deputy chair Antanina Kavalova to one year.

The party leaders were tried under a criminal article against organization of/active participation in group actions grossly disturbing public order.

On October 31, a district court in Minsk found three other UCP members guilty under the same article. Artur Smalakoŭ and Dzijana Čarnušyna were sentenced to two years in prison, and Andrej Asmałoŭski to three. The defendants were placed in the courtroom in handcuffs.

They were accused of participating in protests after the 2020 presidential election. Human rights activists declared all of them, except Čarnušyna, political prisoners.

A total of 13 UCP members are in custody.