{"id":145036,"date":"2025-07-02T20:16:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T17:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/145036\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"opposition-social-security-chief-decries-forced-deportation-of-pardoned-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/145036\/","title":{"rendered":"Opposition social security chief decries forced deportation of pardoned prisoners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

July 2, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Volha Zazulinskaja, the Belarusian opposition\u2019s social security chief, has welcomed pardons for 16 more political prisoners, expressing hope that those released will not face the \u201cnew forms of violence, including forced deportation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She pointed out that authorities forcibly deported some of the 14 prisoners freed on June 21. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople should decide for themselves whether to stay in the country or leave. And this should be their choice, not a condition,\u201d the opposition\u2019s United Transitional Cabinet quoted Zazulinskaja as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier in the day, the Belarusian ruler\u2019s press office announced the release of 16 prisoners \u201cwho committed various crimes, including extremist ones.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some people have been released, others face politically motivated trials, Zazulinakaja said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is happening now, in real time. And we are telling the regime: stop. It costs you nothing. As long as the miscarriage of justice continues, and a new prisoner replaces a released person, releasing people is not a step forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler has pardoned more than 300 political prisoners since July 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On July 2, Belarusian human rights groups documented 1,164 political prisoners remaining behind bars. Tens of thousands have been tried, jailed, or tortured since August 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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