Rights groups designate 23 as political prisoners, total hits new high

June 2, BPN. Belarusian human rights groups have labeled 23 people as political prisoners, taking their total to 1,513, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.

The most common charges against them include insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka or public officials: Juryj Kraŭčanka, Alaksandr Zanoŭski, Alaksandr Zacharaŭ and Sciapan Jakuć (given 18 months in prison each), Julija Kaściučenka and Aksana Jurjeva (one year each), Dzianis Pyrch (two years) as well as Dźmitryj Pankievič and Hienadź Borys (three years of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility) and Aleh Labichaŭ (two years).

Aleh Bołataŭ, Jelisiej Kuźniacoŭ, Jaŭhien Cichanaŭ and Zachar Siniakoŭ remain in custody on similar charges while Raman Samojlenka is serving a restricted freedom term.

Police charged Barys Kučynsky (two years in prison) with insulting public officials and illegal handling of personal data; Michaił Marmyš (two and a half years) and Aleh Słyš (two years), in connection with online comments on the 2021 shootout involving an IT engineer and KGB officers, known as the “Zielcer case.”

Valeryj Viskirski was given five years in prison for participating in protests, abusing state symbols and insulting officials. Volha Ivančanka (two years), Dzianis Dzemidovič and Ihar Chartanovič (three years each) faced charges of slandering and insulting Łukašenka.

Human rights defenders also added Viačasłaŭ Čułkoŭ sentenced to forced treatment in a psychiatric hospital for insulting Łukašenka.

Viasna, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, Human Constanta, Belarusian PEN, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Lawtrend, the Belarusian Association of Journalists and the Barys Zvozskaŭ Human Rights House signed the statement, demanding that all political prisoners be freed.