Opposition leader: hundreds of Belarusian political prisoners fear for their lives

June 14, Pozirk. The lives of at least 250 Belarusian prisoners are in “mortal danger” and six have already died behind bars, Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja told the United States Helsinki Commission yesterday, citing the data collected by the Belarusian pro-democracy forces.

Among those who must be immediately released are six inmates with disabilities, 91 with serious illnesses, 65 seniors, 10 with mental disorders, 23 minors as well as at least five families with both parents behind the bars, she noted.

The politician called for the adoption of a new Belarus Democracy Act, which has been introduced in the US Congress, and the appointment of a special envoy for Belarus.

“We need the voice of the US Government keeping Belarus high on the agenda. Belarusians need US leadership to help release political prisoners,” she stressed, asking Washington to support the call to the UN Secretary General to grant access to Belarusian prisons and provide inmates with medical and legal assistance.

Cichanoŭskaja also urged the US to seek the release of political prisoners by putting pressure on Alaksandar Łukašenka and his officials and supporting Belarusian civil society, rights groups and families of reprisal victims.

As of June 14, human rights defenders identified at least 1,397 political prisoners in Belarus but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Opposition sources estimate the number of political prisoners at around 5,000.

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