The Viasna Human Rights Centre reported that a criminal case has been opened against 70-year-old human rights defender from Mazyr Uladzimir Tselyapun. Today, he was recognised as a political prisoner.
The man was taken into custody in early April. He was reportedly initially held in the temporary detention facility of the Mazyr District Department of Internal Affairs, and was later transferred to pre-trial detention centre No. 3. Details of the charges are unknown, but, as human rights defenders note, the case is politically motivated.
Uladzimir Tselyapun is known in the region for his human rights work, including defending the right to peaceful assembly. In 2019, he actively helped families raising children with disabilities when they were defending the operation of the “Raduga” rehabilitation centre. In 1986, he took part in the clean-up of the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. He has health problems.
