{"id":139107,"date":"2025-05-21T13:05:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T10:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/139107\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"article-19-demands-unconditional-release-of-belarusian-political-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/139107\/","title":{"rendered":"On Solidarity Day, Article 19 demands release of Belarusian political prisoners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus, Vilnius event, May 2025\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

May 21, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Article 19, a rights group based in the United Kingdom, has urged the international community to demand the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus and increase pressure on Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and his officials<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Despite ongoing repression, Belarusians continue to fight, inspire us, and remain determined to achieve meaningful change. . . ARTICLE 19 proudly stands with Belarusians \u2013 both inside the country and in exile \u2013 and remains committed to defending their cause,” says<\/a> the statement released on Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus. Rights defenders set it up in memory of Belarusian dissident Vitold A\u0161urak, who died on May 21 behind bars four years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere have always been political prisoners in Belarus, but the current situation is a large-scale tragedy. Year after year, the regime throws people in prisons, sacrifices them to intimidate the nation and hold on to power,\u201d Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja said today in a video address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of May 21, human rights defenders identified at least 1,189 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cichano\u016dskaja: fight for everyone who gave their lives<\/h3>\n
May 20, Pozirk. \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja has urged the pro-democracy opposition "to keep fighting for everyone who gave their lives for a free Belarus." This comes after Belarusian media reported the death of political prisoner Valancin \u0160termier. "How many more deaths …<\/div>\n \n