{"id":155659,"date":"2025-09-16T13:06:19","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T10:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/155659\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-released-dissidents-share-stories-of-ill-treatment-in-prisons","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/155659\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals: released dissidents share stories of ill-treatment in prisons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September 16,<\/strong> Pozirk.<\/strong> <\/em>New cases of politically-motivated persecution were documented in Belarus from September 13 to 15 as new evidence of ill-treatment of jailed regime critics emerged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illa Dubski, released on September 11 as part of Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s deal with Washington and deported from Belarus, said that prison authorities had forced him to remove a tattoo with the Pahonia coat of arms. The man reportedly had to perform the procedure himself with a razor blade. Dubski also said he faced psychological and physical harassment behind bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 21-year-old jailed regime critic Mikita Za\u0142ataro\u016d cut his veins in late August at a penal colony in Or\u0161a, Viciebsk region, Dissidentby reported. He was rushed to the hospital, where he received medical assistance, yet his condition raises serious concerns, rights defenders said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pressure on journalists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Journalist Kiry\u0142 Pa\u017aniak was arrested over his involvement with\u00a0Platforma 375<\/em>, a YouTube channel that the Committee for State Security (KGB) declared an extremist, Pozirk<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarus Service of Radio Free Europe\/Radio Liberty (RFE\/RL)<\/em> warned about impostors, in particular, a certain Yekaterina Semionova and the SvabodaBelarusBot<\/em>, sending fake requests to opposition activists and groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extremist designations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information ministry announced extremist content designations for 15 Instagram pages, including batumiby.ge<\/em>, olowekdruk<\/em>, barys.haretski<\/em>, yury_liashenka<\/em>, hetamybelarusy<\/em> and dabradzeya<\/em>; belarus_nat.c\u043en<\/em> on TikTok and a book about Hitler by German historian Rainer Zitelmann.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian Prosecutor General Andrej \u0160vied asked the Supreme Court to designate Vilnius-based European Humanities University (EHU) as an extremist group and ban its activities and symbols in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other cases<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singer Alaksiej Hali\u010d stopped replying to calls and messages about two weeks ago and may be arrested. His phone is not available and he has not shown up for work, the Viasna Human Rights Center said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maryna Adamovi\u010d, the wife of Belarusian opposition politician Mika\u0142aj Statkievi\u010d, told<\/a> the EU-based Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Evropa<\/em> that she contacted the police in connection with his disappearance. The man, released along with 51 other prisoners in a deal between the US administration and \u0141uka\u0161enka, refused to leave Belarus. His current whereabouts remain unknown. According to some reports, he may again be held behind bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hrodna Regional Court rejected Mikita Samaryn\u2019s appeal on September 4, leaving the original six-year prison sentence in force, Haradzienkaja Pravaabarona said. Samaryn was persecuted on charges of threatening violence against a police officer and disobedience to prison authorities. Rights groups consider him a political prisoner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of September 16, human rights defenders identified at least 1,168 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"
\n

Cichano\u016dskaja calls for Statkievi\u010d\u2019s release after reports of new detention<\/h3>\n
September 15, Pozirk. Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja has appealed to the international community to demand the release of opposition politician Mika\u0142aj Statkievi\u010d, who refused to leave Belarus after being pardoned on September 11 and may be in custody. "Last …<\/div>\n \n