Council of Europe chief deplores jailed activist’s death

May 8, BPN. Council of Europe Secretary-General Marija Pejčinović Burić has expressed her condolences following the death of an opposition activist and blogger in a Belarusian penal colony.

“I deplore the death in prison of Belarusian blogger Mikałaj Klimovič,” she tweeted. “My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Klimovič, 61, had a heart condition that required constant medical care. He feared that any prison term would be fatal for him. 

He died serving a one-year sentence for insulting Alaksandr Łukašenka with a face-swap picture.