UCP leader Kazłoŭ released from prison

July 22, Pozirk. Mikałaj Kazłoŭ, chairman of the outlawed United Civic Party (UCP), has been released from prison, Parlamentskiy Kanal and Radyjo Svaboda reported.

In early November 2022, a district judge in Minsk sentenced Kazłoŭ to two and a half years in prison for participating in 2020 postelection protests. Rights groups considered his persecution to be politically motivated.

In January, the politician’s associates feared that Kazłoŭ could face a new trial for allegedly disobeying prison authorities, a charge routinely used by the authorities to keep opponents in prisons longer.

One year ago, the Supreme Court ruled to shut down the UCP, forcing the opposition party to move its operations abroad.

Also read: Exiled politician expects more pressure on prisoners ahead of election day