{"id":126908,"date":"2025-02-18T22:54:16","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T19:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/126908\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"cichanouskaja-local-diplomatic-staff-members-foreigners-remain-in-prisons","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/126908\/","title":{"rendered":"Cichano\u016dskaja: local diplomatic staff members, foreigners remain in prisons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja\u2019s briefing for diplomats accredited in Lithuania\r\n\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (the office of \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

February 18, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Local diplomatic staff and even foreigners remain in Belarusian prisons, \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja told the ambassadors and heads of 25 countries\u2019 diplomatic missions in Lithuania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnfortunately, the repressive machine continues to operate not only against Belarusians inside the country, but also abroad,\u201d she said at the briefing in Vilnius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe regime persecutes the families of those who left, including the relatives of those who participated in solidarity rallies after the \u2018non-election\u2019 in 2025. The regime arrests foreign citizens to use them as bargaining chips . . . They are hostages of the regime,\u201d the politician\u2019s press office quoted her as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It noted that the meeting participants discussed\u00a0ways to secure the release of political prisoners, the regional military-political situation, negotiations on Ukraine, support for independent media and\u00a0the problems\u00a0of Belarusians in exile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 2024, Belarusian security forces arrested Mika\u0142aj Chi\u0142a, an employee of the EU Delegation to Belarus, just outside the diplomatic mission’s office. Later that year, the Minsk City Court sentenced him to four years in prison for allegedly inciting hatred and calling for sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human rights defenders declared Chi\u0142a, who is also a Baptist preacher, a political prisoner. On December 18, the European Union called for his immediate and unconditional release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Supreme Court will hear his appeal against the sentence on March 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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