{"id":154002,"date":"2025-09-05T15:55:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T12:55:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/154002\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"rights-groups-recognize-14-political-prisoners-including-a-briton","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/154002\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights groups recognize 14 political prisoners, including a Briton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September 5, <\/strong>Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> The Belarusian human rights defenders have declared 14 more people as political prisoners, taking their total to 1,198, says a statement posted by the Viasna Human Rights Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new designees\u2014Volha Nika\u0142ajeva, Raman Viesia\u0142o\u016dski, Andrej Matusienka, Kiryl Leskie\u0107, Alaksandar Duleba, Ale\u015b Viaro\u016dkin, Iryna Ki\u0161kurna, Ta\u0107ciana Miniec, Ihar Karotka\u016d, D\u017amitryj Truchan, Julija Fenner, Ta\u0107ciana Stasieva, Alaksandar Ryb\u010danka and Kiryl Chudziako\u016d\u2014were arrested or sentenced for their links with protest communities that have been branded \u201cextremist groups\u201d by authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fenner, 52, a Belarusian and British citizen, was arrested in March 2024 as he entered the country at a border checkpoint. She was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of mass disorder and facilitating extremism, according to Viasna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government has criminalized \u201cvarious forms of protest activity\u201d to \u201csuppress political resistance, dissent and anti-war statements,\u201d the human rights defenders said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Ministry of Internal Affairs and Committee for State Security designate arbitrarily and without trial groups of citizens united by public or political interests as extremist for criticism of authorities and demands for change in the state and its policies,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viasna, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, Lawtrend, Respect-Protect-Fulfill, Human Constanta and the Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities signed the declaration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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