{"id":107660,"date":"2024-10-03T12:33:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T09:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/107660\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"rights-groups-label-13-as-former-political-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/107660\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights groups label 13 as former political prisoners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (advokatos.by)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

October 3, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Belarusian human rights organizations have issued a joint statement labelling 13 people as former political prisoners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human rights defenders were unaware of their politically-motivated persecution when they were held behind bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new designees are Ihar Kule\u0161, Zoja Baranava, Kyri\u0142 Ivano\u016d, U\u0142adzimir Berdnikovi\u010d, Vasil Panasiuk, Juryj Pivavar\u010dyk, Anastasija Padhajskaja, Ja\u016dhien Ivano\u016dski, Michai\u0142 Rudko, Siarhiej Cimachaj, Raman Ta\u0142o\u010dka, Siarhiej Turuna\u016d and Ja\u016dhien \u0160ajbak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human rights defenders said their persecution was politically motivated in connection with the realization of their freedom of peaceful assembly, right to association and freedom of expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights groups demanded that the authorities review their cases to overturn the verdicts, exonerate them, and compensate them for the damages caused by the arbitrary sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Viasna Human Rights Center, Lawtrend, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, Belarusian Association of Journalists, Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities, Belarusian PEN and the Barys Zvozska\u016d Human Rights House signed the statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of October 3, human rights defenders identified at least 1,285 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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