At times, it might seem that repression in Belarus is easing. Political prisoners are being released, and their number appears to be decreasing. But that’s not the case – a closer look at the context tells a different story.
BelPol has analyzed the true scale of repression:
- Since 2020, repression has affected at least 500,000 people.
- Around 100,000 people were added to the infamous “riots” database and have been subjected to so-called “preventive” measures.
- People who merely signed in support of alternative candidates during the election campaign in 2020 have also been targeted.
- Political prisoners face pressure from the regime even after their release.
- Being listed as an extremist or terrorist effectively blocks a person from opening a bank account or getting a mobile SIM card.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau, comments on the situation:
“Human rights defenders are receiving over 1,000 requests for assistance every month. Repression in Belarus today affects not only thousands of political prisoners but also hundreds of thousands of people who have been deprived by the regime of their jobs, property, freedom, the right to move freely, and their human dignity. It is our duty to protect every victim and to fight not for symbolic concessions, but for the complete end of political repression and the restoration of rights for all Belarusians”.
