Belarusian political prisoners who were released and expelled to Ukraine arrived in Warsaw last night. They were met near the Belarusian Solidarity Centre.
On 13 December, 123 political prisoners were released. Of them, 114 people were taken to Ukraine. According to adviser to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Franak Viachorka, 90 people arrived in Warsaw. They were met by Belarusians, including Pavel Latushka, deputy head of the United Transitional Cabinet.
Media report that 109 people left Ukraine, most of whom will remain in Poland, while the rest will travel to Lithuania.
According to the human rights centre Viasna, 20 people were taken out of Belarus without passports. They include well-known public figures as well as individuals listed as “terrorists.”
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According to the United Transitional Cabinet, those who arrived in Warsaw include Viktar Babaryka, Mariya Kalesnikava, Maksim Znak, Alyaksandr Feduta and Marina Zolatava. Some former political prisoners travelled on to Vilnius, including Pavel Sevyarynets.
Among those who came to meet the Belarusians, apart from Latushka, were Coordination Council speaker Artsyom Brukhan, Poland’s special representative for cooperation with Belarusian democratic forces Adam Halacinski, deputy director of the Eastern Europe Department of the Polish Foreign Ministry Michal Zawiasa, and German ambassador to Poland Miguel Berger.
“Pavel Latushka expressed words of support to the former prisoners. He also thanked the United States, Ukraine and all countries and organisations that contributed to the release of the large group of political prisoners from Belarus, to organising their departure, reception and accommodation in Ukraine, to their subsequent transfer to the EU, and to providing them with everything necessary, including documents.
The work was organised through the joint efforts of several initiatives (the A Country to Live In foundation, BYSOL, the human rights centre Viasna, the initiatives Ineedhelpby, Dissidentby, Dapamoga, Volnyya, the Kalinowski Regiment, the I Want to Live project and many others) in coordination with the Mission of Democratic Forces in Ukraine, representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet on social policy and national security, and the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Lithuania and Poland have provided and continue to provide significant support,” the Cabinet said.
