Human rights groups declare 12 political prisoners

January 13, BPN. Belarusian human rights organizations have declared 12 more people political prisoners, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.

They are: Dzianis Pučak, Jaŭhien Vierchavodkin, Iłona Biełavus, Ludmiła Bažok, Jaŭhien Ficaŭ, Alaksandra Rybčyk, Natalla Jurkievič, Dzianis Piščała, Siarhiej Kudrycki, Ludmiła Čarniha, Hleb Jurjeŭ and Andrej Kraśnik.

The groups demand that all political prisoners and those arrested for exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly in the post-election period should be immediately released, and that the political oppression of the people should be stopped.

Besides Viasna, the declaration was signed by the Barys Zvozskaŭ Human Rights House, Belarusian Association of Journalists, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Lawtrend, Belarusian PEN, Human Constanta and the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

A total of 1,445 political prisoners have been registered in Belarus. The real figure must be even higher because, according to activists, some political detainees cannot contact them, or do not want to for fear of repercussions.