Rights groups add 15 to political prisoners’ list of almost 1,500

April 14, BPN. The Belarusian human rights community has labeled 15 more people as political prisoners bringing their total to a new record of 1,498, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.

The additions include Anatol Malinoŭski (18 months in prison); Mikałaj Davydaŭ (two years); Radzivon Kačatkoŭ (two and a half years); Alaksandr Jemialjanaŭ, Kanstancin Łapicki and Jahor Kurzin (three years in prison each); Ivan Kotaŭ and Alaksandr Rumko (three and a half years); Raman Jankoŭski and Taćciana Kurylina (four and a half years); Arciom Zubrakoŭ (five years); and Volha Sałamienik (seven and a half years).

The most common charges against those convicted in politically-motivated cases include participating in protests, calling for sanctions, inciting hatred, promoting extremism, insulting and slandering Alaksandr Łukašenka.

Human rights groups also listed Uładzimir Tryfanaŭ (14 years in prison on charges of illegal actions with firearms), Maksim Selaznioŭ (15 years for allegedly committing a terrorist act), and Irena Klaviec who is held in pre-trial detention and is accused of sharing officials’ personal data with an opposition Telegram channel.

Belarusian PEN, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, Lawtrend, the Barys Zvozskaŭ Human Rights House and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee aligned themselves with Viasna’s statement and called for an immediate release of all political prisoners and an end to the politically-motivated crackdown in Belarus.