{"id":149564,"date":"2025-08-04T18:34:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T15:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/149564\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"viasna-despite-pardons-number-of-political-prisoners-remains-critically-high","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/149564\/","title":{"rendered":"Viasna: despite pardons number of political prisoners remains critically high"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

August 4, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Monitors documented 64 instances of politically-motivated persecution, including arrests and searches, in Belarus in July, the Viasna Human Rights Center said in a monthly report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe human rights situation in Belarus remains critical. Reprisals against participants in the 2020 protests, as well as the criminal prosecution of dissidents, members of civic initiatives, journalists, human rights defenders and lawyers continue,\u201d the center said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrests continue in connection with a data breach in February at the Bie\u0142aruski Hajun project that monitored military activity, the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the end of June, human rights activists identified 35 defendants in the case. At least six of them had already been convicted. According to the center, this practice constitutes \u201ca gross violation of the right to freedom of expression, including the right to disseminate and receive information, as well as freedom of association.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Viasna, at least 8,519 people have been targeted by politically motivated criminal prosecution since 2020, and at least 7,190 have received politically motivated sentences. Additionally, 33 people have been subjected to compulsory psychiatric treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite pardons for more than 300 inmates, the number of political prisoners remains critically high, Viasna said. As of the end of July, there were 1,184 documented political prisoners in Belarus\u2019 correctional facilities, including 175 women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June, 48 people were designated as political prisoners. Human rights activists demanded the exoneration of 18 former political inmates. Since May 2020, a total of 4,044 people have been recognized as political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, the government holds 37 journalists and media workers in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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