Rights defenders hope Washington will help secure Rabkova’s release

September 17, Pozirk. A solidarity rally in support of jailed Belarusian rights defender Marfa Rabkova took place in Vilnius today, marking the fifth anniversary of her arrest.
Participants gathered at Vincas Kudirka Square, holding photos of Rabkova arranged to form the message “Free Marfa.”

“We truly hope she will be among those released as part of the so-called deal [between Alaksandar Łukašenka] and [US President Donald] Trump,” Viasna’s lawyer Pavieł Sapiełka told Pozirk.
Rabkova, who coordinated Viasna’s volunteer service, has been held behind bars since her arrest in September 2020. In 2022, she was given 15 years in prison on charges widely seen as politically motivated. Later, the Supreme Court reduced her sentence by three months.
Last week, Łukašenka pardoned a group of 52 regime critics, including prominent opposition figures and journalists, following his meeting with John Coale, US deputy special envoy to Ukraine.
Belarusian officials say that Minsk has engaged in talks with Washington since mid-2024. Since then, the Belarusian ruler has pardoned more than 300 imprisoned regime critics.
Belarus frees more than 50 political prisoners
- SecurityVietnamese military delegation led by army ideology chief arrives in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecurityEU envoys agree to prolong Ukraine‑related sanctions against Belarus by three years, report saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka heaps praise on Russia’s State Duma electionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusian foreign minister leaves for New York to participate in UN eventsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics
- EconomyBelarusian companies’ CapEx rise by 11.5 percent in first eight monthsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyThree Belarusians face trial over alleged irregular migration facilitationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy, Politics
- PoliticsŁukašenka stresses “friendly ties” with Armenians amid tensions with YerevanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyConstitutional Court receives over 260 appeals since 2023 – chairmanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyEDB links Belarus’ economic slowdown to weaker agricultural outputThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics
- SocietyBySol raises nearly €37,000 for recently freed dissidentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition politician Viačorka looking forward to establishment of Belarus-Ukraine coordinating groupThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja leaves for New York to take part in UN eventsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security, SocietyParticipants at Belarusian-Ukrainian forum in Kyiv vow to investigate transfers of Ukrainian children to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityUkraine will probably deal with Belarus-based relay systems for Russian drone attacks in non-public way, envoy saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsCichanoŭskaja welcomes new US sanctions against RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsTen of 25 deported political prisoners move from Lithuania to PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+



