In a concerning development, Belarusian human rights organizations have raised alarms about the treatment of recently pardoned political prisoners. These activists allege that the government, led by Alexander Lukashenko, is exerting pressure on those released to collaborate with authorities.
Over the past quarter, Lukashenko has granted pardons to 115 activists who were incarcerated for their involvement in protests against his rule. However, this number represents only a small portion of the more than 1,300 political prisoners currently held in Belarus, according to the Viasna human rights center.
The situation in Belarus has been tense since 2020, when the country experienced its largest-ever protests following a disputed election that granted Lukashenko his sixth term in office. This election was widely condemned by opposition groups and Western nations as fraudulent. In the aftermath, Viasna reports that approximately 65,000 individuals have been arrested, while hundreds of thousands have fled the country.
Belarus, often referred to as "Europe's last dictatorship," has been under Lukashenko's leadership since 1994. The country, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, shares borders with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, and has a population of about 9.4 million.
Human rights groups, including Viasna and BYSOL, have reported that the pardoned individuals face severe restrictions. They are prohibited from leaving the country and are coerced into participating in propaganda videos. Andrei Stryzhak of BYSOL has alleged that some of the released prisoners' phones were infected with spyware to monitor opposition activities.
"We categorically condemn the authorities' pressure on the former political prisoners."
Pavel Sapelka, a Viasna representative, disclosed that Belarusian law enforcement agencies have threatened the pardoned individuals with re-conviction or retaliation against their families to force their cooperation.
It's worth noting that among those still imprisoned are Ales Bialiatski, Viasna's founder and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Andrzej Poczobut, a Polish journalist whose release is being sought by Poland. Tragically, at least six political prisoners have died while in custody, according to Viasna.
Belarus, a landlocked country known for its extensive forests covering 40% of its territory, has a largely state-controlled economy and maintains close political and economic ties with Russia. The country has been subject to various international sanctions due to human rights concerns, highlighting the ongoing struggle for political freedom and human rights in the region.
As the situation unfolds, the international community continues to monitor the treatment of political prisoners in Belarus, calling for their release and respect for human rights in a country that stands at the crossroads of East and West.