Authorities release another political prisoner with cancer

August 23, Pozirk. Pavieł Kučynski, who was serving a lengthy prison term in a politically-motivated case, has been released, rights defender Alaksandar Kapucki has said on Facebook.
The 29-year-old diagnosed with an advanced stage of Hodgkin lymphoma three years ago was reportedly brought to the city hospital in his native Maładziečna, Minsk region, in a serious condition with pneumonia.
In June 2022, the man was given five years in prison on charges of threatening and insulting officials and Alaksandar Łukašenka in connection with critical online comments. The appeal court reduced the sentence only by three months.
Kučynski may need a bone marrow transplant, which was impossible in prison, doctors said earlier.
In March, the Viasna Human Rights Center issued an appeal to the United Nations special rapporteurs regarding Kučynski’s deteriorating health.
On August 16, Łukašenka signed an edict pardoning 14 women and 16 men convicted of “protest-oriented” crimes. They include seriously ill and retired people, his press office said.
Rights groups have confirmed the release of 22 of the 30 convicts, including journalist Ksienija Łuckina, trade unionist Vasil Bieraśnieŭ, Iryna Sankoŭskaja, Volha Novikava, Ała Zujeva, Volha Stabroŭskaja, Tamara Karavaj, Kaciaryna Leŭ, Natalla Piatrovič, Śviatłana Pałuektava and Jaŭhien Čumiła.
Ryhor Kastusioŭ, another cancer patient who leads the outlawed Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), was released a few weeks earlier.

EU acknowledges release of several political prisoners
- EconomyUpper house approves fines for vegetable shortagesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka says Belarusians should be grateful to his government for staying out warThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyWoman killed by hit-and-run Belarusian in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFour more people recognized as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUpper house passes bill to ban “extremists” from educationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarusian universities to offer 1,000 tuition-free places for Russians this yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SocietyPoland seizes medical products from Belarus with Interpol involvementThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyKuźniacoŭ replaces Jafimaŭ as industry ministerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights defenders label seven as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLukašenka appoints ambassadors to Africa, Middle East, Latin AmericaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsŁukašenka appoints more than a dozen local officialsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyMPs vote to criminalize unauthorized possession of dronesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsPaźniak: Washington can pull Belarus away from RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- SecurityBelarus to open six new border outpostsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityLithuania detects irregular migration at Belarus border after days of calmThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ cattle population shrinksThe material is available only to POZIRK+