{"id":158719,"date":"2025-10-06T14:59:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T11:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/158719\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"over-8900-face-politically-motivated-charges-in-belarus-since-2020-viasna","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/158719\/","title":{"rendered":"Over 8,900 face politically-motivated charges in Belarus since 2020 \u2013 Viasna"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Marco Chilese \/ unsplash.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

October 6, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> At least 8,905 people have faced politically-motivated criminal charges since 2020, with some 7,565 convicted in politically-motivated cases, the Viasna Human Rights Center said in its recent report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viasna recorded 96 cases of reprisals last month, including arrests and searches, with continued persecution of 2020 protesters and systematic repression targeting activists, journalists and human rights defenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants in the 2020 postelection protests now face a heavier charge of rioting instead of violent disorder as the five-year statute of limitations had expired on the latter charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of people whom rights groups consider political prisoners remained critically high, with 77 new additions in September, Viasna noted. As of October 6, the list featured 1,196 names, including 188 women. At least 180 people from this list are particularly vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities keep using extremism- and terrorism-related charges to suppress independent opinions and civic initiatives, while jailed regime critics are exposed to systematic torture and ill-treatment, the report stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least five imprisoned dissidents are currently held incommunicado, rights defenders noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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