Another 40 people have been recognised as former political prisoners in Belarus, the Viasna Human Rights Centre reported.
They are: Uladzimir Aheyevets, Ruslan Aliashkevich, Dzmitry Auchynka, Pavel Barazna, Karyna Bardukhai, Vadzim Bachkouski, Vital Bystrou, Anhelina Vasilyeva, Yana Halimskaya, Maksim Hancharou, Raman Hubanau, Maksim Davidovich, Dzmitry Dzianisau, Dzmitry Drozd, Ihar Zhuk, Pavel Kavalchuk, Yury Kanapliou, Siarhei Kashepau, Yahor Krytski, Yaraslau Kurko, Maksim Lahunovich, Aliaksandr Leanavich, Anton Madzhuha, Dzmitry Maksimchuk, Ihar Maltsau, Yauhen Mandryk, Yauhen Pakatashkin, Aliaksei Pashkevich, Yauhen Prakopchyk, Maksim Sauranchuk, Andrei Seliazniou, Siarhei Sirotka, Illia Smaliuha, Alina Smiarchynskaya, Yauhen Stralkouski, Yauhen Stsepaniuk, Lidziya Fiodarava, Ruslan Charnahrebel, Mikita Chyzheuski, and Dzmitry Chebanik.
“We assess the persecution of the above-mentioned persons as politically motivated persecution in connection with their exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly, the right to association, and freedom of expression in relation to the announced results of the presidential elections of the Republic of Belarus, the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and other socially significant events,” the human rights defenders said.
