Iryna Takarchuk, mother of blogger Volha Takarchuk, has been released, human rights center Viasna reports.
Iryna Takarchuk was detained as part of a raid targeting the families of political prisoners linked to the activities of the INeedHelpBY service, which assists people facing repression. In August 2024, she was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of “facilitating extremism.” Iryna’s daughter, Volha Takarchuk, was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison on charges of insulting a judge, defamation, and organizing and preparing actions that grossly violated public order. She was released in 2022 and left Belarus.
Political prisoner Anastasiya Kukhta was also released. In 2022, the activist was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of participating in actions that grossly violated public order, making calls for actions aimed at harming national security, and participating in an “extremist organization.” Anastasiya’s mother died in 2023, but she was not released to attend the funeral.
