{"id":143046,"date":"2025-06-17T19:33:27","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T16:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/143046\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"rights-groups-label-four-2020-protesters-as-political-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/143046\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights groups label four 2020 protesters as political prisoners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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June 17, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> The Belarusian human rights defenders have declared four jailed regime critics as political prisoners, taking their total to 1,187, says a statement posted by the Viasna Human Rights Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maksim Urbanovi\u010d, Mika\u0142aj Lapie\u0161ka, Alaksandar Nievar and Maksim Lepu\u0161enka serve prison terms on violent disorder charges for participating in the 2020 postelection protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom of peaceful assembly is guaranteed by Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and shall not be subject to any restrictions except those established by law, rights defenders stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peaceful rallies five years ago posed no threat to national or public security yet the interior ministry’s special units dispersed them with disproportionate use of physical force, special means and weapons, the statement noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights defenders demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners and the end of reprisals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viasna, Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Lawtrend, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva and Respect-Protect-Fulfill signed the declaration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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