{"id":119576,"date":"2024-12-24T15:29:04","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T12:29:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/119576\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"rights-groups-label-13-as-political-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/119576\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights groups label 13 as political prisoners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Marco Chilese \/ unsplash.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

December 24, <\/strong>Pozirk.<\/strong> <\/em>Belarusian human rights groups have labeled 13 people convicted of defamation crimes as political prisoners, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arciom Jankin is serving 15 months in prison; Alaksandar Kireje\u016d, one year; Michai\u0142 Hierasim\u010dyk and Ja\u016dhien Ano\u0161yn, 18 months each. The terms of Mika\u0142aj Dziem\u010danka, D\u017amitryj Bie\u0142anovi\u010d, Maksim My\u015bliviec, Juryj Bialkievi\u010d, D\u017amitryj Son\u010dyk, Alena Kijani\u010denka and Andrej Kunicki are unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Siarhiej Miad\u017aviedzie\u016d is serving a restricted freedom term in an open-type correctional facility. Tamara Patockaja is held in custody after being accused of violent disorder and calling for sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities, the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, Belarusian PEN, Lawtrend, Barys Zvozska\u016d Human Rights House aligned themselves with Viasna’s statement and called for an immediate release of all political prisoners and an end to the politically-motivated crackdown in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of December 24, human rights defenders identified at least 1,305 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Opposition sources estimate the number of political prisoners at around 5,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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