{"id":123155,"date":"2025-01-24T13:38:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T10:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/123155\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"rights-groups-sound-alarm-over-political-prisoners-health-ahead-of-election","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/123155\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights groups sound alarm over political prisoners\u2019 health ahead of “election”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (tochka.by)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

January 24, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> The so-called presidential election in Belarus that started with the early voting on January 21 and is to conclude on the main voting day on January 26 is a “propaganda show,” says<\/a> a joint statement by the German-Swiss Libereco and the Viasna Human Rights Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The authorities will undoubtedly declare the current ruler the winner once again,” it noted, citing the atmosphere of fear in Belarus and ongoing reprisals targeting regime critics as Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, in power since 1994, wants to secure another term in office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights groups also drew attention to health problems among several hundred former political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe see that the health of released political prisoners is increasingly deteriorating due to the long periods of detention and the inhumane prison conditions: damp and cold cells, malnutrition, lack of movement and little or no direct sunlight. Many prisoners were abused and tortured, too,\u201d said Marco Fieber, Libereco Germany\u2019s executive director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All people released from Belarusian prisons suffer from serious physical and mental disorders. Teeth, eyes, kidneys, joints, lungs and gastrointestinal tract diseases are the most common along with an increase in cancer and HIV cases, Fieber noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian rights defenders have identified 1,247 political prisoners, but the actual number may be higher because many cases go undocumented as the families fear that publicity would lead to more reprisals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"
\n

UN special rapporteur slams Belarus\u2019 presidential election as unfree and unfair<\/h3>\n
January 23, Pozirk. Belarusian presidential election that started with early voting two days ago and is expected to conclude on the main voting day on Sunday "will not be free and fair,\u201d Nils Mui\u017enieks, the UN special rapporteur on human …<\/div>\n \n