{"id":120079,"date":"2024-12-29T21:22:57","date_gmt":"2024-12-29T18:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/120079\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"belarus-political-prisoners-face-torture-lack-of-medical-care-isolation-report","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/120079\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus’ political prisoners face torture, lack of medical care, isolation \u2013 report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Radyjo Svaboda)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

December 29, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>The situation of political prisoners in Belarus remains consistently critical, the Viasna Human Rights Center said in a report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are held in terrible conditions without quality and timely medical care, are subjected to torture and beatings and often have no contact with the outside world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vadzim Chra\u015bko, Ihar Lednik, Alaksandar Kulini\u010d and Dmitriy Shletgauer died behind bars in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently there are 1,265 political prisoners, including 168 women. At least 224 prisoners are “at particular risk,” according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over 100 political prisoners have serious health issues, 11 are disabled and 16 have mental disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forty-six political prisoners are over 60, and 29 are parents of many children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The regime is holding behind bars 175 cultural figures, 45 media professionals, more than 30 IT specialists, 20 soldiers, 17 doctors, 10 priests and believers, seven lawyers and six human rights activists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Today’s political prisoners include at least 30 families. This is the maximum number of families behind bars in recent years. Brothers and sisters, fathers and children and spouses are in prison,” the report stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least nine people are being held incommunicado. They are: Siarhiej Cichano\u016dski, Ihar \u0141osik, Viktar Babaryka, Maksim Znak, Mika\u0142aj Statkievi\u010d, Mika\u0142aj Ba\u0144ko\u016d, Alaksandar Franckievi\u010d, Andrej Navicki and U\u0142adzimir Kniha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maryja Kale\u015bnikava spent more than 600 days incommunicado until she was allowed to meet with her father in November 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2020, at least 95 political prisoners have been transferred from penal colonies to prisons, and new criminal cases have been opened against 66 detainees \u2013 on charges of malicious disobedience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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