Human rights group estimates scale of October reprisals

October 8, BPN. The Viasna Human Rights Center reports that at least 95 Belarusians were jailed in October for minor offenses on political grounds, and that at least 21 were fined.

Law enforcers detained at least 317 people, Viasna said. Courts held at least 193 hearings.

Human rights activists identified 2,600 people subjected to politically-motivated criminal prosecution between May 2020 and mid-April 2022, Viasna’s lawyer Pavieł Sapiełka said in June.

Belarus had at least 1,394 political prisoners as of late evening of November 5, activists said.