Over five years, 3,940 people were recognized as political prisoners: Day of Solidarity in figures
For five years, the situation with human rights in Belarus has remained terrible. Thousands of people have been imprisoned, and tens of thousands of Belarusians have been forced to leave the country due to repression. According to human rights defenders, in total, more than seven thousand people faced criminal prosecution in almost five years. Right now, at least 1,189 political prisoners are held in terrible conditions. Human rights center Viasna designated May 21 as the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners of Belarus to show the world that political persecution in Belarus has not stopped. Viasna reports figures on the situation with political prisoners for five years of continuous persecution.
For additional reading: https://spring96.org/en/news/117994
The international community reacts to the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners: “My heart is with political prisoners and their families”
The Human Rights Center Viasna has designated May 21 as the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus. This year marks the fourth anniversary of the death of political prisoner Vitold Ashurak in Škloŭ penal colony No. 17. We have collected the reactions of the international community to this date.
For additional reading: https://spring96.org/en/news/117999
Chronology of the criminalization of solidarity: how the right to be near is disappearing in Belarus
Today, solidarity has become a reason for criminal prosecution in Belarus. A care package sent to prison, a letter of support, or a money transfer can get you sentenced to imprisonment. The state considers daily humane gestures a threat.
This article is a chronology of the criminalization of solidarity with political prisoners in Belarus after 2020, and it reports how the right to be close is disappearing in the country.
For additional reading: https://spring96.org/en/news/118013
Belarus continues to live under the shadow of repression: UN Special Rapporteur
Nils Muižnieks, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, published his first annual report in this position. For the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, he provided an overview of major human rights developments in Belarus between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. Among other things, the document states that the presidential elections held on 26 January 2025 cannot be considered compliant with the right to vote and to be elected in genuine periodic elections owing to ongoing politically motivated repression and a complete crackdown of freedom of expression, assembly, and association.
For additional reading: https://spring96.org/en/news/118024
“He could barely walk after a stroke, and they threw him into a punishment cell.” Political prisoner Valiantsin Shtermer died
In early 2025, political prisoner Valiantsin Shtermer, who was serving time in Škloŭ penal colony No. 17, died, Nasha Niva reports. The information was received from reliable sources, but the circumstances of the tragedy are unclear. The exact date of death is unknown, except that it happened in early 2025. There is also no certainty whether Shtermer died in the penal colony or whether he was taken to the hospital. In 2023, the man was sentenced to five years in a penal colony for eight comments against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Valiantsin Shtermer became the eighth political prisoner who died behind bars.
For additional reading: https://spring96.org/en/news/118028