Human rights defender Łojka not released from jail, whereabouts unknown

December 13, BPN. Authorities have not released human rights defender Anastasija Łojka after her third consecutive 15-day jail term expired, Human Constanta reported.

Her current whereabouts remain unknown, the human rights group added.

Police arrested Łojka on October 28 and jailed her on charges of petty hooliganism. Pro-government media posted a video of her saying that she received money from “foreign organizations.”

In court, Łojka said that police officers hit her with a stun gun and left her outside without outerwear for eight hours, after which she fell ill.

She remained in custody without medicines and hygiene items because the detention center administration refused to accept parcels for detainees.

Łojka, a team member of outlawed Human Constanta, monitored changes in legislation and defended the rights of foreigners and stateless people in Belarus.

Human Constanta urged international organizations to publicly state their position on Łojka’s arrest and persecution of Belarusian human rights defenders and use all available international mechanisms to stop politically-motivated persecution in Belarus.