Human rights defenders recognize 20 more detainees as political prisoners

February 6, BPN. Belarusian human rights defenders have identified 20 more political prisoners after examining the cases of recent detainees, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.

The new additions include politician Andrej Dźmitryjeŭ, prominent teacher Jaŭhien Liviant and members of his family, and Aksana Zareckaja, a member of the Coordinating Council of Political Crisis Settlement.

The rights activists demand that the Belarusian authorities immediately free all political prisoners, reconsider politically motivated sentences and stop the crackdown.

The statement has been signed by Viasna, Belarusian PEN, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva and Barys Zvozskaŭ Human Rights House.

In all, 1,450 inmates are known to be held in prisons for political reasons, Viasna said. The real figure must be considerably higher because, according to activists, some political detainees cannot contact them, or do not want to for fear of repercussions.