May 14, Pozirk. Tamara Karavaj, given two years in prison for liking a post critical of Alaksandar Łukašenka, died aged 45 of alleged heart failure shortly after her release from prison, Naša Niva reported, citing the woman’s acquaintance.
The date of her death is unknown.
In March 2023, Karavaj was given two years in prison for reacting to a post critical of Alaksandar Łukašenka on Odnoklassniki. The woman was released in August under a pardon program, shortly before the completion of her sentence.
A similar case was reported just two days ago: Hanna Kandracienka, released in July 2024 after serving a prison term in a politically-motivated case, died of cancer in early February.
At least seven people, whom Belarusian human rights groups considered political prisoners, died in Belarusian prisons between 2022 and 2024.
More than 8,200 people have been prosecuted on political grounds since 2020, with 6,940 convicted and at least 33 sent for compulsory treatment, the Viasna Human Rights Center said earlier this month.
This spring, rights groups identified at least 219 people convicted in politically-motivated cases as being in a high-risk group. About 80 of them suffer from serious illnesses, eight have disabilities, 10 have mental disorders and 32 are over 60 years old.
