Belarus’ human rights situation kept deteriorating in December 2022 – Viasna

January 4, BPN. Authorities continued to persecute Belarusians for political reasons in December 2022, says a monthly report by the Viasna Human Rights Center.

The number of political prisoners identified by human rights defenders kept growing, reaching 1,448 people on December 31, the report noted.

Human rights defenders also recorded more than a hundred trials on politically-motivated charges that resulted in 77 jail sentences and 26 fines.

The report also notes cases of torture and persecution for opinions, beliefs and protest activities under the guise of fighting extremism and terrorism. Authorities continued trials in absentia, violating Belarus’ international obligations, depriving defendants of the basic right to defense and creating grounds for unfair sentences, it added.

The conditions for people sentenced to restricted freedom in home confinement worsened as authorities increased the frequency of inspections and took other measures.

Since the start of the 2020 election campaign, authorities have convicted at least 2,500 people in documented politically-motivated criminal cases, while over 3,500 Belarusians face charges as suspects and defendants, Viasna said.