July 13, BPN. Authorities in Belarus failed to provide timely medical care to artist Aleś Puškin, who suffered from a perforated ulcer, the MOST news website reports citing an unnamed source. The prominent dissident died in the early hours of July 11.
“They simply killed him in prison, I would not call it any other way,” the source said. “He must have sought help in prison, because that kind of clinical picture causes acute pain.”
According to MOST, the unconscious Puškin was taken to a hospital yesterday, where he died on an operating table.
Earlier, his wife said on Facebook that he died at an intense care unit “under unclear circumstances.”
Pushkin is not the first documented political prisoner to pass away. In May 2021, activist Vitold Ašurak died at the Mahiloŭ region’s penal colony under unclear circumstances. Two years later, activist and blogger Mikałaj Klimovič died at the Viciebsk region’s penal colony of heart failure. He had a heart condition that required constant medical care.
Puškin was serving a five-year sentence for insulting state symbols and inciting hatred, after investigators seized his painting of Jaŭhien Žychar, a commander of an anti-Soviet resistance group in the 1940-50s, and nationally-styled items.
His family has already received the body, Radyjo Svaboda reported. He will be buried in the village of Bobr, Minsk region.
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