Political Prisoners Released Today Deported to Ukraine
The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that in addition to 5 Ukrainian citizens released by Lukashenka in agreement with the USA on December 13, 104 citizens of Belarus also arrived in Ukraine.
"Most of them are citizens of Belarus, convicted in politically motivated cases after the 2020 presidential elections and the protests that followed. These are politicians, activists, protest participants, members of opposition candidates' election headquarters, bloggers, journalists, and ordinary citizens accused of 'organizing mass riots,' 'calls for actions against national security,' and other similar articles," the Coordination Headquarters reports.
Among those released are Maria Kalesnikava, Viktar Babaryka, Maksim Znak, Maryna Zolatava, whose release was reported earlier.
In addition, it became known that politician Pavel Sevyarynets, one of the leaders of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, was released.
The following names are also mentioned:
- Maryna Sankevich, sentenced to 7 years in prison for comments on social networks;
- 70-year-old resident of Homiel, Safia Bachurynskaya, sentenced to 2 years in a penal colony for "insulting Lukashenka";
- Homiel resident Uladzislau Yatsenka, imprisoned for 5 years for transferring 21 euros to the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment;
- psychologist Siarhei Ivantsou, detained in April 2023 for allegedly writing comments in the bot of the "Belarus Head of the Brain" channel and sentenced to 4 years in prison;
- pensioner Natallia Malets, sentenced to 3 years for being a member of the "Letters of Solidarity Belarus 2020" Facebook group.
Also, a photo of political prisoner, pensioner Alena Hnauk, appeared on the "I Want to Live" Telegram channel.