{"id":118023,"date":"2024-12-12T23:37:21","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T20:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/118023\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"kalesnikavas-sister-suggests-easing-sanctions-to-free-political-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/118023\/","title":{"rendered":"Kale\u015bnikava’s sister suggests easing sanctions to free political prisoners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Ta\u0107ciana Chomi\u010d (left) at a conference in Brussels\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Viktar Babaryka's Telegram channel)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

December 12, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Diplomatic efforts and international support toward freeing political prisoners produce results, said Ta\u0107ciana Chomi\u010d, co-founder of the Association of Relatives and Former Political Prisoners, at a conference in Brussels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The address by the sister of Maryja Kale\u015bnikava, the jailed campaign manager of regime opponent Viktar Babaryka, was released by his press office. In her speech, Chomi\u010d asserted that this year’s release of hundreds of political prisoners is a signal inviting a coordinated response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She called on the international community to welcome each release as an important humanitarian achievement and strengthen diplomatic efforts to secure further pardons. Flexible and strategic approaches, “including the possibility of easing sanctions if it helps humanitarian efforts,” are acceptable, in her opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“More than 1,300 political prisoners remain in jails, and reprisals and new arrests continue, especially in the run-up to the election. The lives of political prisoners and Belarus’ democratic future depend on concrete actions,” Chomi\u010d said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The high-level conference Standing with the People of Belarus is part of this week\u2019s Days of Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On December 9, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka pardoned 29 more people who had committed \u201cextremist crimes.\u201d \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s office claimed that all of them had repented and petitioned him for pardon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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