Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Senior Advisor, Franak Viacorka, commented on the situation with Viktar Babaryka and the regime’s pressure on political prisoners. He also discussed the response from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, her Office, and the United Transitional Cabinet:
“As soon as we received the reports, and later their confirmation, we started to act. The situation with Viktar Babaryka is not the only case. Belarusian political prisoners are subjected to systemic pressure, psychological and physical, and are kept in inhumane conditions. And we must draw the attention of the international community to this every day.
- What we expect from our foreign partners is:
1. A clear condemnation of the regime’s actions.
2. Demands of access to Viktar Babaryka.
3. Efforts to provide international organizations access to prisons, as well as contact with political prisoners.
4. Demands to stop the persecution of lawyers and ensure the right of political prisoners to defense.”
