October 8, Pozirk. The Viasna Human Rights Center has announced designating 12 more people as political prisoners.
The additions include individuals charged with or detained on suspicion of violent disorder, likely in connection with the 2020 postelection protests: Alaksandar Rudkoŭski, Alaksandar Šulha, Vadzim Boŭfał, Hienadź Palejčuk and Samir Zał ahły Hułu-zade. Others were accused of mass riots: Jaŭhieni Mielničuk, Vital Hira, Uładzisłaŭ Piskunovič, Alaksandar Štyk, Siarhiej Filimonaŭ, Dźmitry Postnikaŭ and Ihar Varanovič.
Human rights activists stressed that the protests against election fraud were spontaneous and self-organized.
The election was marred by frequent violations and was not recognized by the international community as democratic, free and fair.
According to the statement, the demonstrations were peaceful and did not pose a threat to either national or public security. Nevertheless, protesters were attacked by the interior ministry’s special forces, who used “disproportionate force.”
For the first time in Belarusian history, rubber bullets and water cannons were used against peaceful protesters. Some protesters were wounded by stun grenades.
