Rights defenders pay tribute to dissident Ašurak on scheduled release date

June 9, Pozirk. Opposition activist Vitold Ašurak, who died under unclear circumstances behind bars four years ago, would be released on June 9, the Viasna Human Rights Center said.

Ašurak was arrested in August 2020, following the disputed presidential election and sentenced to several short jail terms before being charged in a criminal case.

In early 2021, judge Maksim Fiłataŭ in Lida, Hrodna region, sentenced him to five years in prison on protest-related charges. Rights groups considered Ašurak’s persecution to be politically motivated.

The investigation into his death was stalled.

Rights groups and pro-democracy leaders declared the day of his death, May 21, International Day of Solidarity with Belarusian Political Prisoners.

Besides Ašurak, several other designated political prisoners died in recent years behind bars, including Mikałaj Klimovič, Aleś Puškin, Vadzim Chraśko, Ihar Lednik, Alaksandar Kulinič and Dmitry Shletgauer. The most recent reported case is the death of Valancin Štermier in early 2025.

On June 9, human rights defenders identified at least 1,188 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.

Also read: On Solidarity Day, Article 19 demands release of Belarusian political prisoners