Among the 12 people recognized as political prisoners on October 2 was 52-year-old Czech citizen Vital Dziamidchyk, who holds both Belarusian and Czech citizenship. According to the Viasna Human Rights Center, he was detained after returning to Belarus from the Czech Republic.
Dziamidchyk was born on May 5, 1974, in Hrodna and had lived permanently in the Czech Republic since 2006. On June 30, 2026, he was detained after traveling to Belarus to visit his sick mother. According to Viasna, the criminal case was prompted by financial donations in support of the Belarusian opposition, allegedly including the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment.
Dziamidchyk is currently being held in Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 1 awaiting trial.
As Radio Svaboda reports, participants in the Conference of Belarusians in the Czech Republic expressed solidarity with Vital Dziamidchyk and demanded his release.
According to Viasna, 888 people currently have political prisoner status in Belarus.