Rights groups label 11 as political prisoners

July 24, BPN. Belarusian human rights defenders have labeled 11 more people as political prisoners taking their total to 1,484, says a joint statement published by the Viasna Human Rights Center.

The additions include Kiryl Klimaŭ, Ihar Saciuk, Vital Jurenia, Alaksandar Chmyl and Pavieł Charytonaŭ sentenced to various prison terms for donations to opposition initiatives as well as Volha Rybina, Alaksandar Fikaŭ and Dźmitryj Sieladcoŭ arrested on similar charges.

The list also features Vasil Jakimaŭ convicted of alleged intention to join the Ukrainian army, Maksim Drabnica serving an eight-year prison term after being convicted of extremism and Mikita Bruj, a legal minor, given three years in a juvenile detention center for posts in an opposition Telegram chat.

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