Minsk 14:20

Human rights groups brand nine as political prisoners

February 27, BPN. Belarusian human rights organizations have declared nine people political prisoners, the Viasna Human Rights Center said on its website on February 27.

They are: Jaŭhien Burło, Dźmitryj Hałavač, Andrej Jaremčyk, Uładzimir Bućkaviec, Alaksandr Sumar, Dźmitryj Sciapanaŭ, Juryj Samsonaŭ, Jaŭhien Hłuškoŭ and Uładzisłaŭ Jacenka. Their charges ranged from extremism to libel against Alaksandr Łukašenka.

The declaration was signed by Viasna, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Lawtrend, the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Belarusian PEN and Barys Zvozskaŭ Human Rights House. The organizations demanded that these and other politcal prisoners should be freed.

A total of 1,452 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.

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