Political Prisoner Uladzimir Matskevich Had Surgery

The philosopher is in the hospital.

Political prisoner Uladzimir Matskevich underwent surgery. He is in a hospital in Kaliadzichy. It’s according to Matskevich's Facebook page.

The post reads that the surgery was planned. The recovery period will last at least until the end of this week.

Matskevich is a well-known Belarusian scientist, TV host, public and political figure. The KGB detained him on August 4, 2021. A number of international human rights organizations, including the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, recognized him as a political prisoner soon after.

From 4 to 16 February last year, 65-year-old Uladzimir Matskevich went on a hunger strike demanding that the measure of imprisonment be changed to a travel restriction, complete the investigation and hold a trial. He stopped his hunger strike only with a sharp health deterioration.

In June 2022, the Minsk Regional Court sentenced the philosopher to 5 years in a high security prison. Matskevich was accused of grossly violating the order, insulting Lukashenka and leading an extremist formation.

On October 12, it became known that the public figure was transferred from the pre-trial detention center to Shklou penal colony #17. Two months later, communication with him was actually interrupted.