{"id":112304,"date":"2024-11-01T19:57:55","date_gmt":"2024-11-01T16:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/112304\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"rights-group-reports-arrests-across-belarus-in-run-up-to-january-election","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/112304\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights group reports arrests across Belarus in run-up to January election"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November 1, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> The Viasna Human Rights Center has reported mass arrests across Belarus, noting that the crackdown may be linked to the start of the presidential cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police arrested at least 20 people in Chojniki, Homiel region, including employees of a local creamery, following yesterday\u2019s mass raids and arrests in the Hrodna region\u2019s Smarho\u0144 and Va\u016dkavysk. Law enforcers checked people\u2019s smartphones and used geolocation data to see if they attended 2020 postelection protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police raids targeting regime critics continued in the Minsk region’s Ma\u0142adzie\u010dna district. Local police were reportedly looking for 2020 protesters at their declared places of residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrests in other towns across Belarus involved police violence and unjustified use of force and may be a planned scare campaign in the run-up to the January presidential election, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights groups also have information about arrests of people who have recently returned to Belarus from abroad. Police usually block cell phone services for those targeted by the raids, Viasna warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The victims\u2019 names remain unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus will hold its seventh presidential election from January 21 to 26, with the whole election cycle limited to just three months. The previous 2020 presidential race was marred fraud and police brutality against peaceful protesters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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