TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian opposition leader in exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called for the urgent release of 224 political prisoners in Belarus. Tsikhanouskaya urged Western countries to negotiate with Belarusian authorities for their freedom. The political prisoners are part of a crackdown initiated by Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko in response to protests following a disputed election in 2020.
Since the crackdown began, more than 65,000 individuals have been detained, with ongoing repressions, as reported by the Viasna human rights group. Among those detained, over 1,300 are considered political prisoners. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the need for the immediate release of specific groups, including minors, the elderly, individuals with serious medical conditions, and mothers of multiple children.
The list of political prisoners includes notable figures such as Ales Bialiatski, founder of Viasna and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Maria Kolesnikova, an opposition leader whose health is deteriorating in prison. Tsikhanouskaya highlighted that 29 individuals on the list are in critical condition, with six political prisoners having died in custody since 2020.
Despite Lukashenko's denial of the existence of political prisoners in Belarus, he has recently pardoned 115 individuals who were suffering from medical conditions and sought clemency. Tsikhanouskaya acknowledged these pardons but stressed the need for further action, as more arrests have been made, leading to an additional 142 individuals being designated as political prisoners.
As Lukashenko prepares for re-election next year after three decades in power, the situation in Belarus remains a focal point for international concern. Tsikhanouskaya's plea for the release of political prisoners underscores the ongoing human rights violations in the country and the need for continued pressure on the Belarusian government to uphold fundamental rights and freedoms.
