Belarusian dissident doctor arrested in Russia’s Leningrad province – reports

May 15, Pozirk. Russian criminal police in Murino, Leningrad province, have arrested Uładzimir Martaŭ, an intensive care doctor known for his criticism of the Belarusian government, fontanka.ru reports.
Belarusian authorities reportedly ordered the arrest as a preventive measure, but the reasons are unknown.
Martaŭ had worked at the Viciebsk Emergency Hospital since 2003, where he headed the Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Department for five years.
He criticized the government handling of COVID-19, including disruptions in the supply of oxygen to the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Martaŭ linked the disruptions to the deaths of several patients at the end of 2020.
He was fired in early April 2021, following Alaksandar Łukašenka’s remark that he “should be put in his place.”
Martaŭ abandoned his healthcare career and adopted an active civic stance on social media, denouncing violence by the authoritarian government.
He left Belarus more than two years ago after serving a week in jail for displaying the banned white-red-white flag on his social media profile picture.

Over 160 sentenced in politically-motivated criminal cases in April – Viasna
- PoliticsŁukasenka wishes Nazarbayev a happy birthdayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church plans to open mission in UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCouncil of Europe affirms support for Belarusians at home and abroadThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusians proud of common heritage with Lithuania, grateful for support – CichanoŭskajaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusian foreign minister to attend BRICS summit in BrazilThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCoordination Council supports setting up tribunal on aggression against UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsViasna releases update on reprisals in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsJailed lawyer asks Lithuanian president to swap him for Belarus’ prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPro-government MP calls on emigrants to assault opposition politiciansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityMigration crisis tested Poland’s defense capability – DudaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUkraine, Russia hold new prisoner swap in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOSCE group: Belarus must end crackdown on opponentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUN expert urges Minsk to speed up release of jailed dissidentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus', Russia's PMs discuss integration in phone callThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy, PoliticsEU court upholds sanctions on Belarusian chemical plantsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsIrregular Belarus-EU crossings surge 62 percent in January-June from H2 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja's aide discusses political prisoners at UN human rights officeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyReprisals: 26 persecuted in Biełaruski Hajun caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+