{"id":123207,"date":"2025-01-24T18:58:17","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T15:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/123207\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"government-conceals-scale-of-reprisals-before-sundays-vote-analyst","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/123207\/","title":{"rendered":"Government conceals scale of reprisals before Sunday’s vote \u2013 analyst"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

January 24, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> The government is trying to hide the scale of repression ahead of Sunday’s vote, said Hienad\u017a Kor\u0161una\u016d, a senior researcher with the Center for New Ideas (CNI).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at an online presentation of an analytical report, he said the authorities have stopped releasing videos and forced confessions of detainees and have held some trials without announcements in the electronic schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that those convicted under political articles are not given copies of the minutes so they cannot appeal. Furthermore, activists summoned for questioning are warned that disclosing any information about it will lead to criminal charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These measures indicate that “the regime is increasing pressure while trying to hide its scale,” creating an illusion of stability, the analyst suggested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The authorities continue to suppress any manifestation of civil activity, expanding the list of “extremists” and dissolving public initiatives and organizations, he continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repression intensified in the run-up to the election, he said, pointing out a new trend: the authorities forced voters to sign for candidates’ nomination, threatening dismissals. Reprisals even extend to Belarusians abroad and their relatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawmakers scheduled the seventh presidential election for January 21\u201326.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk tightly controls the election process. The government has outlawed opposition political parties, controls all election commissions and has banned independent observation and opinion polls. It holds more than 1,200 dissidents in prisons for political reasons as politically-motivated arrests continue since 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian pro-democracy forces, as well as European parliaments and organizations have already dismissed the race as a sham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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