Belarus frees American woman from detention as strongman leader looks to extend 30-year rule
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Belarus frees American woman from detention as strongman leader looks to extend 30-year rule

Associated Press  

Belarus has “unilaterally” freed an American woman from detention, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Sunday, as the Kremlin-allied country held an orchestrated election poised to give strongman President Alexander Lukashenko yet another term on top of his three decades in power. Rubio’s statement came following waves of prisoner releases by Lukashenko, often dubbed “Europe’s last dictator.” Belarus’ oldest rights group, Viasna, says that over 1,250 people remain in detention over their opposition to the authorities. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said that Lukashenko himself offered to free the U.S. citizen “as a gesture of goodwill,” while declining to release any Belarusian opposition and rights activists. “Lukashenko’s interim goal is to use the election to confirm his legitimacy and try to overcome his isolation in order to at least start a conversation with the West about easing sanctions,” Shraybman said.

West Belarus Lukashenko Rubio Belarusian Nuhfer  rule  looks  west  rights  belarus  extend  state  belarusian  woman  leader  american  try  election  frees  viasna  lukashenko  strongman  citizen  detention

History of this topic

US frees jailed Russian cybercriminal as Trump builds bridges with Moscow
1 month, 1 week ago

US frees jailed Russian cybercriminal as Trump builds bridges with Moscow

Al Jazeera  

Alexander Vinnik’s release came as an unnamed US citizen was also freed by Russian ally Belarus in a separate deal. In a separate deal announced on Wednesday, the White House confirmed it had also secured the release of another US citizen who was serving jail time in Belarus – a close Russian ally. “President Trump’s strong leadership has led to …

Belarus frees an American and 2 other people in a bid to repair ties with Washington
Trending News
1 month, 1 week ago

Belarus frees an American and 2 other people in a bid to repair ties with Washington

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian authorities on Wednesday released an imprisoned U.S. citizen, a Belarusian journalist for a U.S.-funded media outlet and an opposition supporter in an apparent attempt to repair ruptured ties with Washington. Also freed was Andrey Kuznechyk, a Belarusian journalist for the Belarus service of the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, who had been convicted of being …

Belarus releases 3 people, including an American and a jailed journalist
Trending News
1 month, 1 week ago

Belarus releases 3 people, including an American and a jailed journalist

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Belarus has released three people, including an American and a journalist, who had been detained for more than three years, U.S. officials said Wednesday. After more than three years apart, this family is together again thanks to President Trump,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President Stephen Capus said in a statement that also thanked Secretary of State Marco Rubio …

Belarus: Putin's ally Lukashenko frees eight political prisoners in 'act of mercy' before elections
2 months ago

Belarus: Putin's ally Lukashenko frees eight political prisoners in 'act of mercy' before elections

Firstpost  

Belarus has more than 1,000 political prisoners, many of them detained during the mass protests that erupted after Lukashenko’s contentious re-election in 2020 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko freed eight political prisoners on Friday, an “act of mercy” his office said came just days before an election expected to extend his nearly three-decade rule. In addition to the eight political prisoners, …

Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after being held incommunicado for over 700 days
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after being held incommunicado for over 700 days

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — An imprisoned opposition activist in Belarus resurfaced Wednesday in a video shot by a pro-government blogger after over 700 days of no contact with his family, weeks before an election that is all but certain keep the country’s strongman leader in power. “The authorities decided to show Babaryka in the run-up to the election to avoid accusations …

Belarus’ strongman leader pardons 20 more prisoners, but rights groups say repression continues
Trending News
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Belarus’ strongman leader pardons 20 more prisoners, but rights groups say repression continues

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 20 more people that rights activists describe as political prisoners, a statement on the president’s website said Saturday. In all, 207 political prisoners have been freed, according to Belarus’ oldest and most established human rights group, Viasna. The mass pardons come amid a new wave of repression, said Viasna activist Pavel …

Belarus court jails journalist for four years for criticizing authoritarian president
Trending News
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarus court jails journalist for four years for criticizing authoritarian president

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A Belarusian journalist has been sentenced to four years in prison for her critical reports chronicling a sweeping crackdown on dissent launched by the country’s authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. The Minsk City Court convicted Volha Radzivonava on Tuesday on charges of “insulting the president” and “discrediting Belarus” and sentenced her to four years in prison. “The authorities …

Belarus’ authoritarian ruler pardons 29 political prisoners amid claims of ongoing repression
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarus’ authoritarian ruler pardons 29 political prisoners amid claims of ongoing repression

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’ authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, pardoned 29 political prisoners Monday amid what human rights groups describe as renewed oppression in the country. The mass pardons come amid a new wave of repression as the authorities prepare to hold new presidential elections in January 2025, said Viasna spokesman Pavel Sapelka. “Repression in Belarus is still growing.” The Belarusian …

Belarus grants asylum to fugitive Polish judge wanted on spying allegations
4 months ago

Belarus grants asylum to fugitive Polish judge wanted on spying allegations

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus has granted asylum to a former Polish judge who faced espionage charges at home following his defection in May to the Kremlin-allied country. A decree published Friday by Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus’ autocratic president, described Tomasz Szmydt as being “prosecuted for political reasons” in Poland. Szmydt’s defection to Belarus in May trained the focus on Poland as …

Belarus grants asylum to fugitive Polish judge wanted on spying allegations
4 months ago

Belarus grants asylum to fugitive Polish judge wanted on spying allegations

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Belarus has granted asylum to …

Belarus leader Lukashenko pardons 32 prisoners convicted for ‘extremism’
4 months ago

Belarus leader Lukashenko pardons 32 prisoners convicted for ‘extremism’

Al Jazeera  

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned dozens of political prisoners, his office said, but critics warned that the crackdown on dissent continues, with more than 1,000 people still imprisoned since mass demonstrations in 2020. This marked the sixth wave of pardons of political prisoners since July this year, with a total of 178 people released, according to a tally based …

Belarus has arrested scores of relatives of dissidents ahead of presidential vote, activists say
4 months, 1 week ago

Belarus has arrested scores of relatives of dissidents ahead of presidential vote, activists say

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian authorities have detained over 100 relatives of political prisoners in a new wave of arrests ahead of January’s election in which authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko is seeking a seventh term, rights activists said Friday. The Viasna human rights center said that the raids began Thursday, targeting relatives and friends of political prisoners in various cities across …

Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after no contact with her family for 20 months
Trending News
4 months, 1 week ago

Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after no contact with her family for 20 months

Hindustan Times  

TALLINN, Estonia — Imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova has resurfaced after more than 20 months without any communication with relatives or friends and met with her father, a human rights group said Tuesday. Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after no contact with her family for 20 months Kolesnikova, one of the most popular and charismatic figures who helped lead protests …

Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after no contact with her family for 20 months
4 months, 1 week ago

Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after no contact with her family for 20 months

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova has resurfaced after more than 20 months without any communication with relatives or friends and met with her father, a human rights group said Tuesday. Kolesnikova gained prominence when mass protests erupted in Belarus after the widely disputed August 2020 election gave Lukashenko a sixth term in office. The U.N. Human …

Belarus’ hardline president releases 31 political prisoners but crackdown persists
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarus’ hardline president releases 31 political prisoners but crackdown persists

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’s authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has led a harsh crackdown on opposition, pardoned and released 31 political prisoners, his office announced Thursday. The announcement said the freed prisoners had been convicted of “crimes of an extremist nature,” a description widely used for opposition figures and people arrested in the mass protests that arose in 2020 after …

Belarus's Lukashenko pardons 31 people convicted over 'extremism'
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarus's Lukashenko pardons 31 people convicted over 'extremism'

Firstpost  

“Two women and 29 men have been pardoned,” the Belarusian presidency said in a statement, adding that 17 of them had “chronic illnesses” and seven were parents of small children Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 31 political prisoners, the latest such move that comes two months before an election in which he is set to extend his 30-year rule. …

Belarus adds 1 year to imprisoned opposition activist’s sentence
5 months, 1 week ago

Belarus adds 1 year to imprisoned opposition activist’s sentence

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A court in Belarus on Tuesday sentenced an imprisoned opponent of hardline President Alexander Lukashenko to an additional year behind bars for disobeying prison officials. “The new sentence sounds like a death sentence, because Palina physically may not be able to withstand another circle of hell,” her husband, Andrei Sharenda, told The Associated Press. The German Embassy …

Belarusian-American has his prison sentence extended amid continuous crackdown on dissent in Belarus
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarusian-American has his prison sentence extended amid continuous crackdown on dissent in Belarus

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Belarusian-American has had his …

Belarusian authorities pressure pardoned political prisoners, rights groups say
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Belarusian authorities pressure pardoned political prisoners, rights groups say

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian human rights activists Monday accused the government of pressuring political prisoners who have been pardoned by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko and forcing them to cooperate with authorities. Those pardoned were a small fraction of more than 1,300 political prisoners in Belarus, according to the Viasna human rights center. Viasna and other rights groups said Monday that …

Authoritarian Belarus president pardons 37 political prisoners out of more than 1,300
6 months, 1 week ago

Authoritarian Belarus president pardons 37 political prisoners out of more than 1,300

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday pardoned 37 people serving prison sentences for “extremist” crimes, his office said. Before Monday’s releases, Lukashenko since July had pardoned 78 other people convicted of participating in mass protests, including journalists and activists with serious illnesses. “Freeing some political prisoners doesn’t mark the start of a thaw in Belarus, as harsh …

Belarus’ authoritarian leader pardons 30 out of some 1,400 political prisoners
7 months, 1 week ago

Belarus’ authoritarian leader pardons 30 out of some 1,400 political prisoners

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 30 prisoners convicted for taking part in protests, the presidential office said Friday. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader-in-exile, welcomed the move but vowed to keep fighting until each of nearly 1,400 political prisoners in the country is set free. The Viasna human rights group estimates that Belarus now has …

Russia-US prisoner swap: Biden hails relief of returning Evan Gershkovich in historic exchange
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Russia-US prisoner swap: Biden hails relief of returning Evan Gershkovich in historic exchange

The Independent  

✕ Close Biden ‘relieved’ as prisoner swap ends ‘brutal ordeal’ for Evan Gershkovich For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and …

Belarus frees head of banned party as Lukashenko slowly releases some political prisoners
8 months ago

Belarus frees head of banned party as Lukashenko slowly releases some political prisoners

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — The head of a banned Belarusian opposition party who had been behind bars for two years was released on Monday as the authoritarian country frees a trickle of political prisoners, according to the respected human rights group Viasna. Lukashenko announced an amnesty in early July for some seriously ill political prisoners, and 19 have been released so …

Dozens of Nobel laureates call on Belarus leader Lukashenko to release all political prisoners
8 months, 1 week ago

Dozens of Nobel laureates call on Belarus leader Lukashenko to release all political prisoners

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Dozens of Nobel prize winners …

Belarus broadens visa-free travel for 35 European countries
8 months, 1 week ago

Belarus broadens visa-free travel for 35 European countries

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarusian authorities on Wednesday expanded visa-free travel for residents of 35 European countries, including members of the European Union and the United Kingdom, as part of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko’ s efforts to improve relations with the West. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said Lukashenko has approved temporary visa-free travel for citizens of European nations arriving by rail …

Belarus broadens visa-free travel for 35 European countries
8 months, 1 week ago

Belarus broadens visa-free travel for 35 European countries

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Belarusian authorities on Wednesday expanded …

Belarus, in move to ‘openness,’ broadens visa-free travel for 35 European countries
8 months, 1 week ago

Belarus, in move to ‘openness,’ broadens visa-free travel for 35 European countries

LA Times  

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has long been close to the Kremlin, is relaxing visa restrictions on European visitors in an attempt build ties to the West. Belarusian authorities on Wednesday expanded visa-free travel for residents of 35 European countries, including members of the European Union and the United Kingdom, as part of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko’ s efforts to …

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Belarusian authorities are forcing political prisoners to publicly repent to be freed, activists say

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Human rights activists on Monday accused Belarusian authorities of setting unacceptable conditions for the release of political prisoners, including writing public statements admitting their guilt and repenting. There are currently 1,420 political prisoners behind bars in Belarus, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. Viasna’s Pavel Sapelka said that “dozens, not hundreds” of political prisoners were released …

Belarus rights group says 10 ill political prisoners have been freed
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Belarus rights group says 10 ill political prisoners have been freed

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A Belarusian human rights group said Thursday that at least 10 political prisoners have been freed since the country’s authoritarian president this week promised to release seriously ill people jailed in connection with massive protests nearly four years ago. Pavel Sapelko of the Viasna rights group told The Associated Press that none of those released are well-known …

Cancer-stricken Belarusian political prisoner is released after authoritarian president’s promise
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Cancer-stricken Belarusian political prisoner is released after authoritarian president’s promise

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent Belarusian opposition politician suffering from a severe form of cancer was released Wednesday from prison, his son-in-law said, three years after his arrest in the crackdown on dissent by the country’s authoritarian ruler, Alexander Lukashenko. Ryhor Kastusiou’s release came a day after President Lukashenko announced he would free seriously ill political who were jailed in …

Belarus human rights group denounces detention of priest who posted Ukrainian flag on social media
9 months ago

Belarus human rights group denounces detention of priest who posted Ukrainian flag on social media

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — The prominent Belarusian human rights group Viasna on Tuesday denounced an extension to the detention of a Roman Catholic priest who was jailed after displaying the Ukrainian flag in a social media post. The priest’s jailing comes amid a sweeping and severe crackdown on dissent in Belarus that began as a wave of large and persistent protests …

UN calls on Belarus to investigate torture and death of politicial prisoners
9 months, 2 weeks ago

UN calls on Belarus to investigate torture and death of politicial prisoners

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — United Nations special representatives on human rights have called on Belarusian authorities to investigate the torture and deaths of political prisoners. The report noted that none of the deceased underwent an autopsy and said that the fact the prisoners died while in jail “creates a presumption of arbitrary deprivation of life by State authorities.” It called on …

Belarus authorities unleash another wave of raids and property seizures targeting over 200 activists
10 months ago

Belarus authorities unleash another wave of raids and property seizures targeting over 200 activists

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Authorities in Belarus on Tuesday carried out raids and property seizures targeting more than 200 opposition activists, the latest step in the unrelenting government crackdown against dissent, coinciding with the opposition’s “day of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners.” Belarus’ authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, began the clampdown in August 2020 in response to mass protests following his disputed …

Exiled Belarus opposition leader says she hasn’t heard from her imprisoned husband for over 400 days
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Exiled Belarus opposition leader says she hasn’t heard from her imprisoned husband for over 400 days

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’ exiled opposition leader said Thursday that she hasn’t heard from her imprisoned husband for 421 days. They include Maria Kolesnikova, a leading opposition figure serving an 11-year prison sentence who hasn’t been heard from for 443 days, Mikola Statkevich, an opposition activist whose relatives haven’t heard from him for 448 days and lawyer Maxim Znak who …

The family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure hasn't heard from her for over 400 days
11 months ago

The family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure hasn't heard from her for over 400 days

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy It's been 434 days since …

Nearly 100 Belarus political prisoners have severe medical problems, rights group says
11 months ago

Nearly 100 Belarus political prisoners have severe medical problems, rights group says

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Nearly 100 political prisoners in Belarus, incarcerated in a severe crackdown on dissent, have severe medical problems and could be close to death, the country’s respected human rights group Viasna said Monday. Viasna, whose Nobel Peace Prize-winning founder Ales Bialiatski is among those imprisoned in the crackdown, identified 93 prisoners of particular concern who are suffering from …

Man awaiting trial for insulting Belarusian president dies in jail
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Man awaiting trial for insulting Belarusian president dies in jail

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A Belarusian man who was in jail awaiting trial on charges of insulting the authoritarian president has died in custody, the country’s leading human rights group said Thursday. Aliaksandr Kulinich, 51, died Tuesday in a detention center in the western city of Brest that is notorious for harsh treatment of opposition activists, the Viasna human rights center …

Prominent journalist goes on trial in Belarus on charges widely seen as politically motivated
1 year ago

Prominent journalist goes on trial in Belarus on charges widely seen as politically motivated

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent independent journalist went on trial in Belarus on Tuesday on extremism charges widely seen as politically motivated. “Karnei’s case shows both the degree of danger and the degree of absurdity of the charges, when a journalist in Belarus is tried for a job done professionally —- for spreading objective information,” said Andrei Bastunets, the leader …

Exiled Belarus opposition leader demands news of her imprisoned husband
1 year ago

Exiled Belarus opposition leader demands news of her imprisoned husband

Associated Press  

VILNIUS, Lithuania — Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Friday marched to the country’s embassy in Lithuania, holding a photo of her imprisoned husband and demanding information about him after a year of being incommunicado. Tsikhanouski has been behind bars since being arrested in 2020 after announcing plans to challenge authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in that year’s election. The …

A Russian court extends the pretrial detention for an American reporter accused of spying
1 year, 1 month ago

A Russian court extends the pretrial detention for an American reporter accused of spying

Associated Press  

MOSCOW — A court in the Russian capital ruled Tuesday to keep Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in custody pending his trial on espionage charges that he denies. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday that “we’re disappointed but not surprised by the outcome of the hearing” that upheld Gershkovich’s detention. RFE/RL President Stephen Capus said in a …

The family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure hasn’t heard from her for a year
1 year, 1 month ago

The family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure hasn’t heard from her for a year

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — It’s been a year since the family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova received a letter from her, and no one has seen or heard from her since then, her relatives and Western officials said Wednesday. Kolesnikova, who is serving 11 years in prison for helping organize anti-government protests in Belarus in 2020, and other imprisoned …

The family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure hasn't heard from her for a year
1 year, 1 month ago

The family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure hasn't heard from her for a year

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy It’s been a year since …

No other European country has jailed as many political dissidents
1 year, 2 months ago

No other European country has jailed as many political dissidents

The Independent  

A few days ago, Vadzim Hrasko, a 50-year-old political dissident, died of pneumonia in the prison where he was being detained by the regime in Belarus. According to human rights activists, Hrasko is the fourth political prisoner in Belarus to have died in custody since the fraudulent 2020 presidential election, in which Aleksandr Lukashenko – Europe’s last dictator, who has …

Belarus political prisoners face abuse, no medical care and isolation, former inmate says
1 year, 3 months ago

Belarus political prisoners face abuse, no medical care and isolation, former inmate says

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — During his three years in a Belarusian penal colony, human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka says he and other political prisoners were regularly deprived of family visits, phone calls and parcels. “People disappear in Belarusian colonies and prisons, and the relatives of many political prisoners do not hear anything about them for hundreds of days.” FILE - Artist …

Rights group says security services in Belarus raid apartments and detain election observers
1 year, 3 months ago

Rights group says security services in Belarus raid apartments and detain election observers

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Security services in Belarus are breaking into apartments and detaining people in their workplaces across the country as they carry out hundreds of searches among election observers ahead of next year’s vote, the Belarusian human rights center Viasna said Tuesday. Representatives from the main intelligence service, the KGB, which has retained its Soviet name, are forcing activists …

Belarus bans citizens from renewing passports abroad, spreading fear among those who fled repression
1 year, 6 months ago

Belarus bans citizens from renewing passports abroad, spreading fear among those who fled repression

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Belarus’ authoritarian president on Tuesday banned citizens from renewing their passports while staying abroad, which could force those who fled the country amid growing repression to return to maintain their travel documents. An estimated 200-300,000 Belarusians have left the country in the last three years since massive protests against an election that returned President Alexander Lukashenko to …

Belarus arrests a prominent journalist in its continued crackdown on dissent
1 year, 8 months ago

Belarus arrests a prominent journalist in its continued crackdown on dissent

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Authorities in Belarus have arrested a prominent journalist who has written for the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the latest step in a yearslong crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists. Belarus’ oldest and most prominent human rights group, Viasna, reported that Karnei has been placed in the Akrestina pretrial detention center, notorious for …

Belarus hands lengthy prison terms to 18 participants of 2020 protests
1 year, 9 months ago

Belarus hands lengthy prison terms to 18 participants of 2020 protests

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — A court in Belarus on Wednesday handed lengthy prison terms to 18 participants of mass anti-government protests that shook the country in 2020, the latest step in a brutal years-long effort to stifle all and any dissent. According to the authorities, the protesters formed a resistance movement, attacked law enforcement officers, carried out acts of sabotage and …

Belarusian dissident who was pulled off forced-down plane says he has been pardoned
1 year, 10 months ago

Belarusian dissident who was pulled off forced-down plane says he has been pardoned

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — The Belarusian state news agency on Monday reported that a dissident journalist who was pulled off a flight that was forced to land in the country and was later sentenced to eight years in prison says he has received a presidential pardon. He ran a Telegram messaging app channel that was widely used by participants in mass …

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