Human rights defenders add 15 to political prisoners’ list

February 16, BPN. Human rights defenders have added 15 more people to the political prisoners’ list, taking their total to 1,448, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

New additions include people convicted over protests and on charges of insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka and officials, namely Anatol Lavonik and Pavieł Sviburtovič (two and a half years in prison each); Aleh Juškievič, Daniił Zajac, Maksim Zajcaŭ, Anatol Ciapcikaŭ (two years each); Vasil Trocki and Dzianis Chaŭchanaŭ (14 months each); Michaił Karpieška (18 months) and Andrej Maconka (one year).

Human rights defenders also added to their list people who allegedly insulted Łukašenka: Anatol Puhač and Mikałaj Karol (both are in custody), Michaił Kucharčuk (under house arrest), and Siarhiej Aŭdziejeŭ (sent for compulsory treatment). Other new political prisoner is Ludmila Kohan, currently under house arrest for allegedly desecrating property.

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Belarusian PEN, the Belarusian Association of Journalists and Pravavaja Inicyjatyva aligned themselves with Viasna’s statement and called for an immediate release of all political prisoners, an end to the political crackdown in Belarus and the removal of defamation articles from the Criminal Code.