{"id":168353,"date":"2025-12-16T10:56:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T07:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/168353\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"reprisals-continue-1110-dissidents-remain-behind-bars-after-high-profile-releases","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/168353\/","title":{"rendered":"Reprisals continue: 1,110 dissidents remain behind bars after high-profile releases"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

December 16, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Three days ago, 123 designated political prisoners, including prominent opposition figures and activists, were freed following talks between Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and John Coale, US President Donald Trump\u2019s special envoy for Belarus, Pozirk<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All freed people were taken out of Belarus, and most of them are now in Ukraine, including former presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka, his campaign manager Maryja Kale\u015bnikava, lawyer Maksim Znak, journalist Maryna Zo\u0142atava, human rights defender U\u0142adzimir \u0141abkovi\u010d and opposition politician Pavie\u0142 Sieviaryniec. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ale\u015b Bialacki was taken to Lithuania.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, rights defenders continued to document new cases of politically-motivated persecution in Belarus after December 13. In one instance, a Telegram channel linked to the interior ministry threatened Belarusians who commented online on the high-profile releases, zerkalo.io<\/em> reported.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criminal proceedings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday, a judge in Hrodna sentenced Alaksandar Zdaravienna\u016d to 10 years in prison on charges of high treason and facilitating extremist activities and fined him 21,000 rubels (more than $7,100), the Viasna Human Rights Center reported. His brother Vadzim is serving a two-year prison term for allegedly insulting Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka in an online comment.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 22-year-old man in Brest region\u2019s Ivacevi\u010dy was given four years in prison for allegedly insulting \u0141uka\u0161enka, inciting hatred and rehabilitating Nazism, the Brest region\u2019s prosecutors said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least 71 designated political prisoners have had their prison terms extended on disobedience charges since 2020, Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ill-treatment of prisoners<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jailed businessman Siarhiej Botvi\u010d, given 13 years in prison in a politically-motivated case, went on hunger strike at Penal Colony No 2 in Ivacevi\u010dy. He risks damaging his deteriorating health, zerkalo.io<\/em> reported. The man reportedly holds citizenships of Lithuania and France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u017amitryj Siem\u010danka, ex-journalist at the ONT<\/em> TV channel who resigned in 2020 and supported the postelection protests, said he faced ill-treatment, including psychological pressure, at a detention center in Baranavi\u010dy, Brest region. The journalist left Belarus in July after serving three years in prison on charges widely seen as politically motivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prison authorities at Penal Colony No 3 in the Viciebsk district prohibited prisoners from storing food and personal belongings in one place, MAYDAY.TEAM reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of December 16, human rights defenders identified at least 1,110 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"