Freedom to political prisoners!
Sunday of December 19, 2010, was called “bloody” in Belarus. On the day of the presidential elections, a peaceful rally against the rigged election results was brutally dispersed and more than 1000 people, among them most presidential candidates, members of their teams, journalists and human rights activists, were arrested. More than 40 people were jailed. Presidential candidates and activists of their teams received unprecedentedly long jail sentences – from 2 to 6 years.
Innocent people spent almost a year behind bars facing torture and inhuman treatment. Lukashenka had to release some political prisoners due to Western sanctions and the catastrophic state of the country's economy.
Presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich and 5 activists are still in jail.
The international community and human rights organisations demand to release the Belarusian prisoners of conscience. Seeking the release of remaining 6 political prisoners, the European Union and the United States imposed visa restrictions and economic sanctions on dictator's cronies – officials and businessmen involved in repressions and providing financial aid to the regime.
Yury Rubtsou: 225140, Brest obl., Pruzhany r-n, d. Kuplin, IUOT №7
Yauheny Vaskovich: 212011, Mahilou, ul. Krupskoi 99а, prison №4
Mikalai Dzyadok: 212011, Mahilou, ul. Krupskoi 99а, prison №4
Ihar Alinevich: 211300, Vitebskaya oblast, Vitebski r-n, p. Vitba. IK № 3
Artyom Prakapenka: 212013, Mahilou, Slavgorodskoye Shosse 183, IK №15
Mikalai Statkevich: 213004, Shklov, ul.1-ya Zavodskaya, 8, IK-17
Topic: Freedom to political prisoners!
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21:09 Yauhen Vaskovich also got out of jail photo 15
The political prisoner is to arrive to Babrujsk at 10.10 p.m.
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20:41 Father of political prisoner Artsyom Prakapenka: I am happy, what else could I say 4
Artsyom Prakapenka in a phone conversation with his father had time only to say that he would arrive tomorrow.
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19:08 Political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich released photo video 227
Mikalai Statkevich’s wife Maryna Adamovich confirmed the information about her husband’s release.
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11:20 Call to release graffiti makers photo
On August 20 there was held a picket to support graffiti makers next to the pretrial detention facility No. 1, Valadarskaha Str.
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10:44 Political prisoner Vaskovich hopes for review of sentence
The decision is expected to be taken on September 17.
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11:49 Zmitser Dashkevich: Solidarity with political prisoners is direct demonstration of our might 2
It is important not only for Mikalai Dzyadok to support the political prisoner on his birthday, but for the people surrounding him in the penal facility, and for us ourselves.
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15:26 Igor Olinevich: It's the same old GULAG
The political prisoner Igor Olinevich has described the conditions in the colonies and prisons: suicides, abuse and lawlessness.
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11:34 Portraits of Statkevich in Brest photo
Posters calling to release the political prisoner appeared in the centre of Brest on Solidarity Day.
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10:55 Freedom Day in Minsk: Solidarity to Statkevich! photo
New stickers calling to release Mikalai Statkevich, a political prisoner, appeared in Minsk on Solidarity Day.
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10:40 Letters to Statkevich cannot pass censorship 1
The political prisoner receives empty envelopes instead of letters.
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15:00 Mikalai Statkevich: Lukashenka’s statement is another attempt to bargain for some bonuses 3
The former presidential candidate in Belarus, a political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich, who turns 59 on August 12, has phoned his wife Maryna Adamovich today.
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13:59 Political prisoner Vaskovich forbidden to receive distance education photo
A letter to Yauhen Vaskovich with rules of distance learning at the European Humanities University (EHU) didn't pass prison censorship.
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17:18 Streamer “Freedom to political prisoners” placed over Minsk ring road photo
The banner with a demand to release prisoners of Lukashenka’s regime was attached to the pedestrian overpass over Minsk ring road.
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10:46 Sky for Statkevich: new action in solidarity with a political prisoner 10
On August 12 Mikalai Statkevich celebrates his Birthday behind bars.
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12:27 Photo fact: Stickers “Freedom to Statkevich” in Fanipal 1
Stickers with an appeal to release political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich are seen in different settlements of Dzyarzhynski district of Minsk region.
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16:45 Banner “Freedom to political prisoners” placed near Minsk exit road photo 1
The banner was attached to the walking bridge over Minsk-Dzyarzhynsk highway.
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13:02 Yury Rubtsou held incommunicado in temporary detention facility 1
The political prisoner didn't receive numerous birthday greetings. He also cannot send letters.
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16:10 Rally in support of political prisoners in Belarus held in Vilnius photo
Belarusian political prisoners were supported in the capital of Lithuania.
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14:25 Lukashenka recognizes Statkevich as a hostage 38
De facto, the release of political prisoners depends on recognition of the "elections".
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15:40 Valiantsina Alinevich: There are no improvements in confinement conditions
The Supreme Court of Belarus dismissed the supervisory appeal by political prisoner Ihar Alinevich.
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15:01 Political prisoner Yury Rubtsou turns 54 10
Yury Rubtsou, recently sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment, turns 54 today.
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7:51 Siarhei Skrabets: Mikalai Statkevich is tortured in prison 10
The political prisoner is held in solitary confinement without light and fresh air.
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14:35 Mikalai Statkevich: I see little sense in these "elections" 5
On July 27 there was a meeting of the initiative group of Mikalai Statkevich.
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16:25 Brest regional court dismissed complaint of political prisoner Yury Rubtsou 6
The panel of Brest regional court has considered the cassation complaint of an activist Yury Rubtsou.
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18:38 Belarusian Foreign Ministry doesn’t understand English? 10
The authorities are deliberately putting off consideration of the complaint at the UN Human Rights Committee filed on the behalf of a political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich.
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13:37 Maryna Adamovich: Glad to know Statkevich not to run this circus 6
Meanwhile, the wife of political prisoner intends to appeal against the CEC's decision on denial to register an initiative group.
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15:24 Mikalai Dziadok. Bitter taste of colony in Horki photo 4
Mikalai Dziadok has been held in the correctional colony in Horki for two months already.
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13:02 Mikalai Dziadok and his cellmate held in 5 sq. m. cell
Mikalai Dziadok was transferred to a cell-type unit for six months after 42 days in a punishment cell.
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11:12 Ivonka Survilla: Political prisoners release should be ensured 7
The international community must continue putting pressure on Belarusian authorities.
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12:35 UN Special Rapporteurs informed about torture of political prisoner Dziadok 4
UN Special Rapporteurs plan to demand that Belarus give explanations regarding the situation of Dziadok.
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17:35 Valyantsina Alinevich: Any “election” is out of question until political prisoners’ release 4
Participation in the dictator’s imitation of the “election” could result in a situation when even more young people will suffer the same fate as the regime’s prisoners.
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13:04 Mikalai Dziadok's father: The colony administration tries to suppress my son
Without explaining the political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok is placed in a Ward-type Room (WTR) and denied a meeting with lawyer. All requirements are left with no answer.
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16:49 Relatives of political prisoners: Wrong impression of situation in Belarusian prisons is being created 3
Families of Belarusian political prisoners and citizens who had been victims of court lawlessness, have written an open letter.
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16:34 Human rights defenders: Pressure on Belarusian political prisoners increased 2
No positive changes in the human rights situation were recorded in Belarus in June.
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12:01 Ales Bialiatski: Authorities practice Soviet punitive methods
In Belarus six political prisoners remain behind bars, the presidential ex-candidate Mikalai Statkevich is among them.
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13:31 New obstacles put to political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok
Today, July 2, the lawyer of Mikalai Dziadok didn't manage to meet with him. This was reported to the HRC “Viasna” by Mikalai's father.
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13:39 Pavel Sapelka: There are legal mechanisms to release Statkevich
According to Pavel Sapelka, lawyer at the Human Rights Center "Viasna", political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich cannot be amnestied.
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11:54 Yury Rubtsou speaks of Baranavichy isolation ward: We are fed like pigs
There are even worse conditions in Baranavichy remand prison than in open type detention facility in Kuplin village.
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17:21 Meetings of Mikalai Dzyadok are limited to 15 minutes 3
On June 25 the meeting of Mikalai Dzyadok with his lawyer lasted for 15 minutes only.
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10:24 Bundestag member Manuel Sarrazin: I call for immediate release of Mikalai Dziadok
Manuel Sarrazin, a member of the German Bundestag and representative of the Alliance 90/The Greens parliamentary group, has adopted the Belarusian political prisoner.
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15:49 Paval Sevyarynets: EU won’t come to terms with Lukashenka without political prisoners’ release
The Belarusian politician believes that the stand of the European Union on human rights situation in Belarus has become more principled, than pragmatic now.
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11:54 Viktar Rubtsou: Father worked as a bus driver 11
Yury Rubtsou's son told about political prisoner's life before the imprisonment.
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18:04 Portraits of Yury Rubtsou pasted at streets of Brest and Kamyanets photo 4
Portraits of the political prisoner could be seen in towns of Brest region now.
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16:08 Amnesty International recognized Yury Rubtsou prisoner of conscience 2
A human rights organisation Amnesty International has launched a campaign in support of the political prisoner.
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11:38 Political prisoner Prakapenka earns Br50,000 a month 2
Political prisoner Artsiom Prakapenka had a long-term meeting with his parents on June 8-9.
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13:15 Mikalai Dziadok incarcerated
The political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok is placed in a punitive isolation ward for 7 days for a refusal to work.
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12:42 Political prisoner Alinevich about Vitsba-3 correctional facility: More and more people arrive
Political prisoner Ihar Alinevich called home after almost a month of silence.
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15:02 Political prisoner Dzyadok kept in punishment isolation cell despite being wounded 1
Despite the fact that the political prisoner wounded himself, he was left in the punishment isolation cell, after minimal medical assistance was provided to him.
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11:35 Rubtsova visits her husband in the remand prison 5
On June 3 Yadviha Rubtsova, political prisoner Yury Rubtsou's wife, visited him, now he is in the remand prison No. 6 of Baranavichy.
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16:29 Alyaksandr Dabravolski: Delegation of European Parliament must meet with political prisoners 1
It is the only thing that could be done as a symbol that human rights in Belarus had not been sacrificed for the sake of politics.
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