Diplomats gather outside Minsk court to support dissident
Foreign diplomats outside the Minsk City Court.
February 21, Pozirk. Diplomats from the embassies of Germany and other democratic countries have gathered outside the Minsk City Court to express solidarity with Uładzisłaŭ Bieładzied, a Belarusian State University’s Theology Institute alumni and a political prisoner, being tried today.
The German mission emphasized that the federal government “demands the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.”
Bieładzied is charged with inciting hatred, distributing pornography, insulting the head of state, and insulting a public servant.
After his arrest in the summer of 2023, Bieładzied has been tried several times for sharing opposition content under Article 19.11 of the Administrative Offenses Code.
Human rights organizations have identified 1,421 people as current political prisoners, but the actual number is believed to be much higher.
Lednik’s death proves inhuman dimension of oppression – EU spokesman
February 21, Pozirk. “The tragic death of Ihar Lednik in prison proves inhuman dimension of [Alaksandar] Łukašenka's oppression,” said Peter Stano, lead spokesman for the European Union’s External Affairs Service, on X. Noting that Belarus’ political prisoners are ill-treated and deprived of …