Over 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus

Belarusian human rights activists have recognized 12 more people as political prisoners. They are Ruslan Zavadzich, Mikalai Bankou, Aliaksei Arlou, Andrei Ramanovich, Uladzislau Savitski, Tatsiana Pytsko, Vitali Charnavusau, Andrei Prymaka, Dzmitry Shauchenka, Uladzimir Tychynski and Yauhen Parkhomenka. They have been convicted or imprisoned for "financing or facilitating extremist activities" (for donating to the community, which is recognized by the Belarus as an "extremist formation"), "insulting Lukashenka", and being a member of an "extremist formation". Human rights activists consider their cases politically motivated and demand their release.

The number of political prisoners in our country has increased to 1,501.