{"id":94461,"date":"2024-07-08T17:16:35","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T14:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/94461\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"france-welcomes-release-of-political-prisoners-urges-minsk-to-end-crackdown","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/94461\/","title":{"rendered":"France welcomes release of political prisoners, urges Minsk to end crackdown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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July 8, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> France has noted the release of several Belarusian political prisoners and urges the Belarusian authorities to continue on this path, the French embassy in Minsk has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk should “fulfil its international obligations to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the statement stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paris reiterated its solidarity with the Belarusian people and called on the authorities to start a genuine dialogue with all segments of the Belarusian society and stop the politically-motivated crackdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On July 2, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka announced the release of his critically ill opponents and signed the amnesty law marking the 80th anniversary of Belarus\u2019 liberation from the Nazis. So far, authorities have released 18 political prisoners, among them four women and cancer-stricken opposition politician Ryhor Kastusio\u016d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights groups do not disclose any other names for safety reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of July 8, human rights defenders identified at least 1,421 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented. Opposition sources estimate the number of political prisoners at around 5,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States and the European Union called on Minsk to release all political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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