Four more people listed political prisoners

November 12, BPN. Belarusian human rights groups have declared four more people political prisoners.

The Viasna Human Rights Center listed Pavieł Linkievič, serving seven years in prison for causing bodily harm, and Michaił Zubkoŭ, sentenced to three years of restricted freedom for allegedly assaulting a police officer. Zachar Tarazievič and Anton Łysaŭ are serving seven and a half and ten years in prison, respectively on charges of intentional destruction of property.

In a joint statement, Viasna, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, Belarusian PEN, and the Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities demanded that these and other regime critics be immediately freed.

As of November 12, human rights defenders identified at least 1,425 political prisoners, but the real number must be even higher because, according to activists, some political detainees cannot contact them, or do not want to for fear of repercussions.