Opposition activist dies in Viciebsk region’s prison

May 7, BPN. Mikałaj Klimovič, 61, an opposition activist and blogger, has died in Penal Colony No 3 in Vićba, Viciebsk region, a source who wished to remain anonymous told BPN.

The prison authorities reportedly informed his family in a phone call but did not disclose the circumstances and the cause of death. Klimovič had a disability following heart surgery after a stroke in May 2022 and feared for his life in prison.

Authorities persecuted Klimovič for a smiley under a face-swap picture showing Alaksandr Łukašenka and Vladimir Putin wearing Nazi uniforms. On February 28, a court in Pinsk sentenced him to one year in prison for allegedly insulting Łukašenka.

The blogger was taken into custody after the verdict. Klimovič’s attorney informed the court about his client’s condition, warning that a custodial sentence may be dangerous for him.

On April 21, the Brest Regional Court was to consider his appeal but the outcome of the hearing is unknown.

“I hoped and many [people] hoped that the sentence would be limited to [restricted freedom] in home confinement,” Klimovič told BPN after the verdict, noting that it shocked everyone given his fragile health.

“Any prison term is death for me because I have to be under constant medical supervision and have to take a lot of strong medications,” he said. “I might not even make it through a month.”

Klimovič, known as Mikałaj Vierasień in social media, had been arrested in December 2022 on similar grounds. He felt unwell in custody and was hospitalized. Later, judge Andrej Bačyła fined him 111 rubels (about $40).

On May 5, authorities blacklisted Klimovič as a “person involved in extremist activities.”

In May 2021, jailed Lida activist Vitold Ašurak died in prison under unknown circumstances.