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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18:34
Minsk anarchists hanged banner “Freedom to political prisoners”
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3
On May 25 overnight Minsk anarchists held an action in support of political prisoners.
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17:03
Prison authorities want Statkevich to share cell with another inmate
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Political prisoner and former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich is still held in a sole confinement cell in prison No.4 in Mahilou.
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16:35
Rushaniya Vaskovich: My son is keeping up his spirits
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Letters from family and from everyone who cares, are a huge support to Yauhen Vaskovich, a political prisoner.
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17:36
Ales Bialiatski: New political prisoners might emerge before election
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The Belarusian authorities are showing that they are going to use different repressive methods against opposition and the civil society.
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15:45
Political prisoner Rubtsou sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment
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Trial against political prisoner Yury Rubtsou ended in the Pruzhany district court.
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12:08
'Lukashenka go away' banner in Minsk
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The banner was put up on the bridge over a busy highway Minsk-Brest.
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17:15
Paval Sevyarynets: Lives of political prisoners in danger
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Belarusian authorities are defiantly using gangsters’ methods, viewing political prisoners as a painful point spot for pressuring the West.
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14:20
Political prisoner Dziadok cuts his abdomen and arms in prison
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Mikalai Dziadok protested against tortures by prison staff.
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17:22
Stanislau Shushkevich: Let's fight but for real political prisoners instead of abstract “elections”
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Representatives of the opposition that run in the “elections” legitimise the regime.
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11:21
Infographics: Political prisoners in Belarus
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Today six political prisoners are behind bars.
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12:54
Maryna Adamovich: Authorities do not change their attitude towards political prisoners
The authorities continue to repeat that the problem of political prisoners does not exist.
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12:57
Merkel asks Lukashenka about political prisoners' release
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It happened at the meeting of Normandy Four in Minsk. But it is discovered only now.
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15:34
Human rights defenders at Riga forum call to free all political prisoners
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The call was addressed to all members of the Eastern Partnership.
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14:23
Yadviha Rubtsova: Eastern Partnership summit is not place for Lukashenka's officials
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Families of political prisoners cannot understand why representatives of the Belarusian authorities were invited to Riga.
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15:07
US Department of State urges to release Belarusian political prisoners
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The United States again calls on the Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally and respect their political rights.
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13:18
Photo fact: Portraits of kidnapped opposition leaders in the Minsk streets
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Minsk dwellers are reminded of kidnapped and murdered political and civil public figures.
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13:09
BCD to demand release of Statkevich instead of running in “elections”
The Belarusian Christian Democracy party (BCD) will not propose its candidate for presidency.
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12:26
Mikalai Statkevich: I don't aspire to become a hero, but I want to remain a decent person
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Journalist Barys Vyrvich from Bialynichy received a letter from political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich, who serves his term in prison No.4 in Mahilou.
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10:49
Mikalai Statkevich thanks Demi Moore for solidarity
The political prisoner replied to the Hollywood star's letter with words of support.
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12:51
Banner "Freedom to political prisoners" placed at the entrance to Minsk
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4
A banner is placed over a busy highway to the airport.
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13:56
Yury Rubtsou: «I am going to declare a dry hunger-strike in the case of a closed trial»
The political prisoner Yury Rubtsou has sent a letter to the Human Rights Center "Viasna".
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10:52
Mikalai Statkevich transferred to prison №4 in Mahilyou
There the political prisoner is to stay until the end of the term, for 1 year, 7 months and 15 days.
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15:04
Pavel Seviarynets: Belarusians should unite around proposing Statkevich as presidential candidate
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The campaign's initiative group already has 500 people.
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20:11
Sentence to Statkevich: Prison until the end of term
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The custodial pattern for the former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich has been harshened again.
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17:02
Action in Brest: Freedom to Statkevich!
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A banner with a demand to release the political prisoner was unfurled today in a micro district Vulka of the city on the Bug River.
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15:28
EU representative not allowed to attend trial over Statkevich
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The court trial in the case of political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich starts in Shklou penal colony.
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12:40
Maryna Adamovich: Mikalai Statkevich preparing for prison
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Tomorrow Shklou colony will hold the trial of former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich, who was accused of "regime violation".
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13:06
Dziadok remains in colony
The tribunal of the Mahileu Regional Court did not grant the appeal of the political prisoner Mikalai Dziadok.
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10:39
Demi Moore supports Statkevich
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Famous Hollywood actress Demi Moore met with Andrei Sannikau, the leader of the civil campaign European Belarus, on the Sedona Forum organized by John McCain.
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17:19
Mikalai Statkevich: “Certain personality should consult a specialist”
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The political prisoner answered to Lukashenka’s accusations.
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14:35
Political prisoner Prakapenka may face new jail term?
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The political prisoner was denied a pardon. His prison term may be extended due to violations of prison rules.
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8:45
Political prisoner Rubtsou gets acquainted with materials of a new case
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On April 22 Yury Rubtsou got acquainted with materials of a criminal case initiated under Article avoidance of serving punishment.
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13:22
President of PACE: Resumption of contacts with Belarus is only after free elections and release of political prisoners
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Anne Brasseur sounded conditions for resuming contacts with the official Minsk.
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12:11
Mikalai Statkevich: Mice proposals stimulate cat's appetite
Political prisoner and presidential candidate spoke about the upcoming "elections".
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13:01
Artsiom Prakapenka applies for pardon
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Lukashenka, however, does not hurry to release the political prisoner.
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12:31
Images of political prisoners next to the National Opera and Ballet of Belarus
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Portraits of Belarusian political prisoners appeared on the Day of Solidarity in the center of Minsk.
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11:52
Maryna Adamovich: Pressure on political prisoners is challenge to West
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The wife of imprisoned former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich says about the increased pressure on political prisoners.
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17:15
“Freedom to Statkevich” banner unfurled in Brest
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A banner with a call to release the political prisoner was seen in one of the busy streets of the capital of the region.
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15:14
Maryna Adamovich: EU politicians have been repeating the same mistake for 20 years
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The Belarusian authorities increase pressure on political prisoners while holding a dialogue with the EU.
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13:50
Human Rights Watch calls for release of Belarusian political prisoners
Recommendations for steps Belarus should be urged to take: release six prisoners, establish an immediate moratorium on the death penalty and amend the law on mass media.
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11:58
Political prisoner Rubtsou to be thrown to pre-trial detention centre
Activist Yury Rubtsou from Homel is accused of evasion of serving a term of punishment.
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7:48
Political prisoner Statkevich faces another trial
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Statkevich faces tougher regime.
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15:18
Supervision over Eduard Lobau intensified
The former political prisoner Eduard Lobau is to return home before 8 p.m., and check in at the police department of Maskouski district every Thursday.
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14:20
Mikalai Dziadok's appeal to be considered on April 30
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The appeal of political prisoner Mikalai Dziadol will be heard by the Mahilou regional court at 10:00 on April 30.
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16:55
Human rights organizations demand to stop pressurization of Mikalai Statkevich
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Legal Transformation Centre Lawtrend and Human Rights Centre "Viasna" filed a appeal to the Department of Corrections and the administration of the penal colony №17 in Shklou concerning the increased pressure on the political prisoner.
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15:07
Ales Bialiatski: Authorities stepping up pressure on political prisoners
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The international community should pay attention to spiraling on of the crackdown against the civil society in Belarus.
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13:14
Yury Rubtsou is in a remand prison
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Yury Rubtsou is taken into custody.
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11:53
Yury Rubtsou's location is unknown
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There has been no information from the political prisoner since yesterday. It is possible that he is now in jail.
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10:17
Yury Rubtsou goes on hunger strike
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Political prisoner Yury Rubtsou protests against a new criminal case that has been opened against him.
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9:50
Maryna Adamovich: Mikalai Statkevich needs solidarity
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Pressure on political prisoners continues, and even a letter means big support for them.