Three foreign “agents” and three Belarusians listed as political prisoners

April 29, BPN. Belarusian human rights organizations labeled six more people as political prisoners.

In a statement released yesterday, they listed three foreign nationals convicted of covert intelligence work: Pole Jerzy Żywalewski (four years behinds bars) and Ukrainians Mykhailo Stoliarchuk (six years) and Dmytro Hudyk (five years).

They also pointed to Siamion Akuła, who was sentenced to two-and-a-half years for a public order offence and inaccurate financial reporting.

Rusłan Łabanok, sentenced to 11 years for bribery and high treason, and underaged Arciom Vajciachovič, taken into custody in case of extortion, were also declared political prisoners.

The statement was signed by the Viasna Human Rights Center, Lawtrend, Barys Zvozskaŭ Human Rights House, Human Constanta, Belarusian PEN and Pravavaja Inicyjatyva.

The human rights groups demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners and an end to reprisals against citizens.

Human rights defenders identified at least 1,499 political prisoners as of today.