Rights groups designate 15 as political prisoners

June 10, BPN. Belarusian human rights groups have labeled 15 people as political prisoners, taking their total to 1,495, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.

Additions include people accused or convicted on charges of gross violations of public order, among them Anastasija Pierjanovič, Illa Dubak, Uładzimir Hanusievič, Jaŭhien Cichanovič, Alaksiej Mileŭski, Maryja Kaminskaja, Alaksandr Klimaševič, Andrej Novik, Viktar Horbač, Aleh Zajac (transgender person), Dźmitryj Čuryła, Illa Akišaŭ and Aksana Łakoza. 

Andrej Navasielčan and Siarhiej Ivancoŭ, accused of insulting public officials and promoting extremist activities, respectively, in addition to participating in protests, are also listed as political prisoners.

Human rights defenders issued a joint statement demanding that all political prisoners and those arrested for peaceful protests in the post-election period be released, and that politically motivated reprisals be stopped.

Viasna, Belarusian PEN, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, Lawtrend, and Human Constanta signed the statement.