{"id":194965,"date":"2026-07-08T22:17:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T19:17:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/194965\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T22:18:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T19:18:01","slug":"eu-welcomes-recent-release-of-political-prisoners-in-belarus-expresses-concern-about-its-deteriorating-human-rights-situation","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/194965\/","title":{"rendered":"EU welcomes recent release of political prisoners in Belarus, expresses concern about its \u201cdeteriorating human rights situation\u201d\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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July 8, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>The European Union has welcomed the recent release of a group of political prisoners in Belarus but simultaneously expressed concern about its \u201cdeteriorating human rights situation.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile we welcome the recent release of 28 political prisoners in Belarus, we continue to be concerned about the fate of at least 863 political prisoners (according to Viasna Human Rights Center), still unjustly detained under appalling conditions, in isolation from families and lawyers, subjected to ill-treatment and torture, with no access to essential health services,\u201d says a statement<\/a> published by Delegation of the EU to the Council of Europe.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EU also expresses concern about new arrests and re-arrests and restrictions on the rights and freedoms of those who have been released. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EU remains \u201cdeeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus and strongly condemn the continuing persecution and intimidation campaigns against all segments of Belarusian society, including human rights defenders, journalists, independent trade unionists, civil society representatives and persons belonging to national minorities by the Belarusian regime,\u201d the statement says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EU calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining political prisoners in Belarus and for their effective rehabilitation, and urges the authorities to bring an end to repression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom aligned themselves with the statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On July 1, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka signed an edict pardoning 32 people, including 28 convicted on \u201cextremism-related\u201d charges that authorities routinely use to persecute regime critics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pardons, issued ahead of Independence Day on July 3, reflect what \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s press office described as a \u201cprinciple of humanism\u201d toward the individuals and their families. According to the Viasna Human Rights Center, some of those pardoned by \u0141uka\u0161enka on July 1 were about to complete their restricted freedom terms in home confinement. Thus, the human rights community did not regard them as \u201cpolitical prisoners.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u0141uka\u0161enka pardons 32, including 28 convicted of extremism<\/h3>\n
July 1, Pozirk. Alaksanadr \u0141uka\u0161enka has signed an edict pardoning 32 people, including 28 convicted on extremism-related charges that authorities routinely use to persecute regime critics. The pardons, issued ahead of Independence Day on July 3, reflect what his press …<\/div>\n \n