Belarus keeps up crackdown on dissent even as authorities free some prisoners, rights group says

TALLINN – Authorities successful Belarus proceed their unrelenting crackdown connected dissent adjacent arsenic they merchandise immoderate prisoners, the country's starring rights radical told The Associated Press connected Tuesday.

Last month, the Belarusian authorities pardoned and released 14 prisoners, but astatine slightest 60 much radical were arrested connected politically motivated charges, said Pavel Sapelka, a rights advocator with the Viasna quality rights center. In May, the halfway counted much than 100 politically driven arrests, Sapelka said.

“The steamroller of repressions doesn't stop, and the authorities proceed to stifle immoderate dissent successful Belarus, opening caller high-profile cases,” Sapelka told the AP connected Tuesday. “No one, perfectly nary 1 tin consciousness harmless successful Belarus.”

Mass arrests and convictions of authorities critics successful Belarus person continued since 2020, erstwhile Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was handed a sixth word successful bureau successful an predetermination that the absorption and the West denounced arsenic rigged.

Tens of thousands of radical took to the streets successful protest, successful the biggest demonstrations that the country’s ever seen. Authorities unleashed a convulsive crackdown successful response, detaining and beating thousands and driving galore much into exile abroad. The crackdown drew planetary condemnation, and the U.S. and the European Union imposed sanctions connected Belarus.

Viasna has recorded 1,174 radical down bars arsenic governmental prisoners. The fig includes 38 journalists and the group's founder, Ales Bialiatski, who won the Nobel Peace Prize successful 2022. At slightest 8 governmental prisoners person died down bars.

Lukashenko, who successful January secured different word successful bureau successful different predetermination the absorption denounced arsenic a sham, has precocious been pardoning immoderate of the governmental prisoners, seeking to amended ties with the West. In total, helium has pardoned and freed much than 300 prisoners since July 2024, including immoderate U.S. citizens and different foreigners.

Last month, Belarusian authorities released salient absorption fig Siarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 others and brought them to Lithuania. Their merchandise came conscionable hours aft Belarusian authorities announced that Lukashenko met with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, successful the Belarusian capital, Minsk.

But rights advocates reason that the concern successful Belarus hasn't changed, and authorities person precocious opened respective caller high-profile cases, which indicates their volition to proceed the crackdown.

At slightest 20 radical person been arrested successful the lawsuit against Belaruski Hajun, a Belarusian activistic radical that monitors troops movements successful Belarus, Sapelka said.

Viasna connected Monday besides reported the apprehension of fashionable Belarusian signer Aleh Hamenka, who is being accused of taking portion successful anti-government protests. Another lawsuit involves sociologists from the Wardomacki sociological probe laboratory, according to Sapelka.

Nils Muižnieks, U.N.'s peculiar rapporteur for quality rights successful Belarus, has precocious said that “there is nary motion of betterment successful the quality rights concern successful Belarus, and the authorities are disregarding offers of cooperation.”

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