{"id":122539,"date":"2025-01-20T23:50:26","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T20:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/122539\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"viasna-reports-282-political-prisoners-at-special-risk","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/122539\/","title":{"rendered":"Viasna reports 282 political prisoners at risk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Illustration photo (pixabay.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

January 20, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Human rights activists know of at least 282 political prisoners at high risk, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports. The exposed inmates account for 22.7 percent of all designated political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least 81 people are seriously ill, eight are disabled, 35 are over 60 years old and 12 have mental disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The political prisoners include 30 mothers and fathers with many children. In at least 10 families, both parents are behind bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oldest political prisoner is 77-year-old Michai\u0142 Lapiejka from Mahilo\u016d, who was sent for compulsory treatment at a psychiatric hospital for “insulting” Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For people from certain vulnerable groups, imprisonment is an even greater test than for others. Moreover, it further worsens their health due to untimely assistance, the lack of regular medical checks they need and the unavailability of the necessary medical supplies,” Viasna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It noted that any disease progresses faster in detention because of the lack of qualified medical care, fresh air and adequate nutrition, and also because of the constant psychological pressure and stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viasna gave several examples. After viral hepatitis, European Belarus activist Andrej Vojni\u010d was diagnosed with cirrhosis, diabetes and a tumor. He needs a liver transplant, but the administration holds him in a punishment cell and deprives him of parcels and visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sixty-year-old political scientist Alaksandar Fiaduta was diagnosed with acute heart failure. Twenty-year-old Mikita Za\u0142ataro\u016d suffers from epilepsy. Fifty-year-old Aksana La\u016d\u0161ova cannot move independently due to a leg condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On January 18, \u0141uka\u0161enka pardoned 23 people who his press office said had committed “extremist” crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was the first batch of pardoned political prisoners in 2025. Last year, there were eight waves of pardons. In early July, \u0141uka\u0161enka announced the release of his critically ill opponents, after which 18 political prisoners reportedly gained freedom. Later, he issued more pardons, bringing the number of those released to 250.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, authorities continue to arrest people for political reasons, and courts often issue sentences in politically motivated trials, according to rights activists. Repression has intensified in the run-up to this week’s presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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