Minskers urge authorities to release political prisoners
Belarusian human rights defenders and oppositionists have urged the Belarusian government to release political prisoners without delay. The appeal was pronounced at the forum ‘Release Political Prisoners’ held in Minsk. People considered to be political prisoners have appeared in Belarus again, BelaPAN notes. Blogger Eduard Palchys (John Silver) and Uladzimir Kondrus were meant. The latter is accused of December 19, 2010 mass riots while the former is accused of arousing religious, national, linguistic and social hostility and the distribution of pornography (his case has already been sent to Minsk City Court).
20 people including ex-political prisoners Mikalai Autuhovich, Mikalai Statkevich and Pavel Sevyarynets took part in the forum ‘Release Political Prisoners’. Despite the sanctions lifted from Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the release of political prisoners in 2015 and Belarus-EU contacts, “the regime has started a new wave of prosecution of the independent community and democratic activists during the economic crisis and ‘the parliamentary campaign,” they noted in the forum resolution. The action participants urged the authorities to stop the prosecution of the participants of peaceful protest actions and to release political prisoners and acquit them.
The list of people considered to be political prisoners was made at the forum. There are 16 names including Taras Avatarau (imprisoned in Belarus after returning from Donets Basin) on it.
