Human rights activist Mironaŭ leaves Belarus

June 12, BPN. Illa Mironaŭ, a Homiel-based volunteer and former political prisoner, has left for Lithuania.

“I am very grateful to the Belarusian Council for Culture as I have successfully evacuated to a safe place,” he wrote on Facebook, noting that that was his first time in Vilnius.

In October 2022, authorities sentenced him to 18 months in prison on charges of discrediting the state. He was released in the courtroom as he has served his full term in pre-trial detention.

Later, Mironaŭ served five jail terms for allegedly sharing opposition content. In March, authorities also fined his mother Valancina Mironava 407 rubels (about $140) on similar charges.

Mironaŭ sent over 2,500 letters of solidarity to Belarusians imprisoned in politically-motivated cases and delivered dozens of parcels to pre-trial detention facilities.

Earlier this year, he complained to the information ministry about alleged abuse by the state-run media.