Experts from the U.N. Human Rights Commission have made a plea to Belarusian authorities to consider pardoning an opposition politician, Ryhor Kastusiou, who has been diagnosed with a severe form of cancer while in prison. Kastusiou, 66, is the leader of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) party and is currently serving a 10-year sentence on charges of 'conspiracy to seize power.' The BPF, one of Belarus's oldest political parties, was liquidated by the Belarusian Supreme Court in 2023.
The U.N. experts have emphasized the urgent need for Belarusian authorities to take into account Kastusiou's deteriorating health condition and to potentially grant him a pardon or remission of sentence. Kastusiou, who was detained in April 2021, has faced harsh conditions during his almost three years of detention, including being placed in punishment cells known for their inhumane treatment.
