{"id":162345,"date":"2025-10-30T17:50:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/162345\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"rights-groups-label-former-comedian-four-others-as-political-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/162345\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights groups label former comedian, four others as political prisoners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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October 30, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Belarusian human rights defenders have added five more names to their list of political prisoners, taking the total to 1,254, says a joint statement published by the Viasna Human Rights Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recent additions include Arkad\u017a Kaj\u010duranka, U\u0142adzimir Ku\u0161nier, Aleh Kulpanovi\u010d and Siarhiej \u0141ysienka serving prison terms on charges ranging from insulting Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and his officials to calling for sanctions and inciting hatred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stand-up comedian Vasil Kra\u016d\u010duk, held in custody after his extradition from Russia and accused of insulting officials, is also on the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viasna, Lawtrend, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Belarusian PEN, Pravavaja Inicyjatyva, the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Belarusian Association of Journalists signed the declaration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights defenders demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners and the end of reprisals, urging the authorities to take measures \u201caimed at decriminalizing defamation offenses and repealing Criminal Code articles that carry punishment for insulting the state and officials and desecrating state symbols.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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