Rights groups label nine as political prisoners

April 19, BPN. The Belarusian human rights community has labeled nine more people as political prisoners, says a joint statement published on April 19.

Additions include Uładzisłaŭ Siomucha, Viktar Žavaranak, Alina Haravaja, Andrej Sinica, Halina Smirnova, Pavieł Kučaravienka, Darja Iksanava, Dzianis Ancileŭski, and Dźmitryj Paŭtarak who remain in custody on charges of participating in protests.

The Viasna Human Rights Center, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, Lawtrend, Belarusian PEN, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and Barys Zvozskaŭ Human Rights House signed the statement, demanding that all political prisoners be freed and harassment of regime opponents be stopped.

A total of 1,494 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.