{"id":173534,"date":"2026-01-29T19:40:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T16:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/173534\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"rights-lawyers-rails-against-forced-expulsion-of-political-prisoners-in-a-new-report","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/173534\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights lawyer rails against forced expulsion of political prisoners in a new report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

January 29, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Kaciaryna Dejka\u0142a, a lawyer with the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, has harshly criticized the Belarusian government\u2019s policy of forced expulsion of political prisoners, while presenting a new report on trends observed in September-December 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka released 123 prisoners in a deal with Washington. Most of those released were bused to Ukraine without a chance of going back to Belarus. Some prisoners were taken to Vilnius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Ukraine, currently a scene of fierce fighting after the 2022 invasion by Russian troops, the released prisoners, who were already quite vulnerable, found themselves amid more uncertainty as they faced a direct threat to their life and health,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report details new instances of human rights abuse by authorities, such as new legislation discriminating against exiled Belarusians, which requires fingerprinting for people with dual citizenship and those holding residence permits from foreign states and personal data collection for cross-border travelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another piece of legislation empowered the prosecutor general, the interior minister and the chiefs of the Investigative Committee and Committee for State Security to restrict internet access for individuals and legal entities without court rulings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government also expanded the list of jobs that are available only to loyalists, including tour guides, notaries, teachers, realtors, anti-crisis administrators, auditors and bankers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legislation enacted in December gave the armed forces more powers to introduce martial law and intervene in internal political struggle to \u201cprevent an armed conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dejka\u0142a pointed out that despite the release of several hundred political prisoners the government does not intend to change its repressive policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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