Journalist Łosik’s wife, four other women released under amnesty

July 25, Pozirk. Darja Łosik, Tamara Astreika, Śviatłana Łupač, Kaciaryna Madziankova and Palina Pałavinka were released from Homiel’s prison on July 3 under an amnesty program, the Homiel branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.

Some of them reportedly could have been pardoned.

In January 2023, authorities sentenced Łosik to two years in prison for an interview with Belsat TV channel deemed extremist in Belarus.

Her husband, RFE/RL contributor and blogger Ihar Łosik, is serving 15 years in prison for alleged incitement to hatred and mass riots.

Human rights defenders say that his persecution is politically motivated.

The couple has a four-year-old daughter.

Astrejka and Madziankova were serving unspecified prison terms on protest-related charges, while Pałavinka was sentenced to two and a half years in December 2022.

Śviatłana Łupač, daughter of exiled journalist Dźmitryj Łupač, was given 18 months in prison last year on similar charges.

In January, the interior ministry blacklisted her as an extremist.

On July 2, Łukašenka announced the release of his critically ill opponents and signed the amnesty law marking the 80th anniversary of Belarus’ liberation from the Nazis.

Rights groups said 18 political prisoners were released the next day, four women and 14 men, including Ryhor Kastusioŭ, the cancer-stricken Belarusian Popular Front leader who was serving a 10-year prison sentence.

The activists withheld the names of the others for safety reasons.

Four days ago, Valancin Sukała of the Supreme Court announced the release of some 2020 protesters under the amnesty program.

Also read: Supreme Court chairman hints at possible release of more political prisoners