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The recent diplomatic efforts involving the US and Belarus mark a significant development in the ongoing struggle for the freedom of political prisoners. The US administration is negotiating with Belarus for the release of at least 100 political prisoners. This diplomatic dialogue underscores the continued international pressure on Belarus to improve its human rights record. Meanwhile, five Ukrainian civilians have been successfully returned from Belarus to Ukraine, with US intervention playing a crucial role. Moreover, the release of opposition leader Sergey Tikhanovsky highlights a possible shift in Belarusian policy during a strategic visit by US Special Representative Keith Kellogg. These events reflect the dynamic political landscape and the importance of international cooperation in addressing human rights issues.
What recent events highlighted the issue of political prisoners in Belarus?
Recently, Belarus released several political prisoners, including opposition leader Sergey Tikhanovsky, during a visit by US Special Representative Keith Kellogg. Additionally, diplomatic discussions are taking place between the US and Belarus regarding the release of at least 100 more political prisoners. These events highlight the ongoing international efforts to address issues related to political prisoners in Belarus.
How did the United States assist in the return of Ukrainians from Belarus?
The United States played a pivotal role in facilitating the return of five Ukrainian civilians from Belarus. Through diplomatic negotiations and advocacy for their release, the US administration successfully assisted in their repatriation, which is part of a broader effort to address political imprisonment and human rights abuses in Belarus.
What was the significance of Tikhanovsky's release from prison in Belarus?
The release of Sergey Tikhanovsky, a prominent opposition leader, from Belarusian imprisonment is significant as it suggests a potential shift in Belarusian governmental policy amidst international diplomatic efforts. His release coincides with a visit by US diplomat Keith Kellogg, indicating possible concessions made by Belarus under international pressure for improved human rights and political freedoms.
How many political prisoners are currently at risk of facing persecution in Belarus?
Reports indicate that at least 16 Ukrainian citizens have faced politically motivated persecution in Belarus. Additionally, ongoing discussions between the United States and Belarus aim to address the status and potential release of over 100 political prisoners, underscoring the serious human rights challenges faced by detained individuals in Belarus.
What is the impact of international discussions on political prisoners in Belarus?
International discussions, such as those led by the United States, aim to apply pressure on Belarus to release political prisoners and adhere to human rights standards. These diplomatic efforts highlight global advocacy for political freedoms and the rights of individuals unjustly imprisoned, potentially leading to policy changes and prisoner releases in Belarus.
TOP news political prisoners
"I will not give up the hunger strike, and I will not be imprisoned in this country," – Savchenko Ukrainian pilot Nadiia Savchenko, kidnapped by the Russian Special Forces and illegally held in jail, declared that she will not give up the hunger strike and will not be imprisoned in Russia. 118 576 936 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Savchenko slowly dying in Russian prison - lawyer. PHOTOS Ukrainian pilot and the Verkhovna Rada deputy Nadia Savchenko’s lawyer said that she was "slowly dying" in the Russian prison after 50 days of hunger strike. 254 058 599
Russian Bubeyev jailed for reposting "Crimea is Ukraine" publication on social media Russian mechanic engineer Andrey Bubeyev has been sentenced to 2.3 years in penal colony for reposting a material about Crimea on his social media account. 93 789 470 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine
Prisoners swap: Ukrainian political prisoners, POW sailors on their way home Newly-elected Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Riaboshapka said that Ukrainian political prisoners, including Oleh Sentsov, Volodymyr Balukh, and Pavlo Hryb, are returning to Ukraine. 49 507 452
Ukrainian MP Muraiev calls Sentsov terrorist and "a person who plotted arson and bomb attacks" Owner of the pro-Russian NewsOne TV channel, non-affiliated Ukrainian lawmaker Yevhen Muraiev, who once was a member of the Party of Regions, called political prisoner Oleh Sentsov a terrorist. 89 933 444 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
"Nadiia's condition is critical. To convoy her would mean death. Everything burns inside her," - Savchenko's aide Mezentsev The health condition of MP Nadiia Savchenko, illegally convicted in the Russian Federation, is critical. 105 063 429 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Putin hates Poroshenko therefore no dialogue on political prisoners release possible between them, Mejlis deputy head says Russian leader Vladimir Putin will not discuss the release of prisoners with incumbent president of Ukraine as he bears a personal grudge against Poroshenko. 14 025 332 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
"It's too late. Nadiia's health has melted away," - Savchenko's mother Maria Savchenko, the mother of Russian-held Ukrainian pilot and people's deputy Nadiia Savchenko, spoke of the consequences of the dry hunger strike declared by her daughter in protest. 111 490 266 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Ukrainian citizen Ternovskyi arrested in Russia on suspicion of Right Sector involvement. PHOTOS+VIDEO Russian Investigation Committee has announced detention of Ukrainian citizen Roman Ternovskyi in the Rostov Oblast of Russia. 56 909 225 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Nadiia quit dry hunger strike yesterday. Warden received her statement, - Vira Savchenko Nadiia Savchenko, the Ukrainian pilot unlawfully tried in Russia, voluntarily quit the dry hunger strike yesterday, March 9. 61 621 208 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
"They choked me, beat me in the groin and abdomen, hit me on the head with a bag of sand, imitating execution," - Ukrainian Yatsenko illegally held in Russia in 2014-2015 on FSB tortures Student of the law faculty of the Lviv National University Yurii Yatsenko, who spent more than a year in Russian jails, told how the FSB tortured him and tried to enlist in the service. 56 944 204 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Crimean filmmaker pleads not guilty in terrorism trial in Russia: "This is not real trial for me. Do whatever you want". VIDEO Trial against Crimean filmmaker Oleh Sentsov started in Moscow. 50 017 197
Security Service of Ukraine: no POWs exchange between Russia and Ukraine today There will be no official exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia on Friday. 18 173 181 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Russia's rock legend Grebenshchikov calls for release of Sentsov, Kolchenko, and Afanasiev. PHOTOS Famous Russian musician Boris Grebenshchikov signed a letter to the prosecutor general of the Russian Federation, asking him to take urgent measures and repeal sentences against Ukrainians Oleh Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko, and Hennadii Afanasiev. 40 137 159 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Kremlin cannot confirm negotiations on exchange of Sentsov and Kolchenko for captured Russian commandoes Russian president’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated he could not confirm the information spread by the media that Moscow has allegedly offered Kyiv to exchange filmmaker Oleh Sentsov and activist Oleksandr Kolchenko for captive Russian special forces operatives Alexander Aleksandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev. 6 617 144 Previously in trend: Captured Russian special forces operatives Sentsov-Kolchenko verdict
Russian-held Ukrainian pensioner Yurii Soloshenko gets six years in penal colony for "espionage" Moscow City Court has delivered a verdict against 73-year-old resident of Poltava Yurii Soloshenko, whom Ukraine's Foreign Ministry considers to be a political prisoner. The Ukrainian pensioner is convicted of espionage and has been sentenced to six years in a penal colony. 29 712 140
Hollywood star Johnny Depp shows support for Oleh Sentsov. PHOTO The Voice Project activists have launched Imprisoned for Art campaign that allows famous actors and musicians to draw attention to the fate of their colleagues from around the world who have found themselves behind bars for political reasons. 84 630 138 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Klykh's lawyer dwelt on gruesome tortures applied against her defendant in Russian prison Ukrainian political prisoner Stanislav Klykh was brutally tortured in a Russian prison and apparently pumped with psychotropic drugs. 39 388 138 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Ukrainian citizen Panov, charged with terrorism in Russia, died in pretrial detention center in Rostov, - Fontanka. PHOTO Artur Panov, a citizen of Ukraine charged with preparation of a terrorist attack, died in a pretrial facility. 108 074 129 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Kremlin set to launch campaign against Savchenko's defense, - lawyer Feygin Russian Presidential Administration is currently preparing an information campaign to be launched prior to convicting Ukrainian pilot, MP Nadiia Savchenko. 18 281 118
"They try me because I am Ukrainian," - Karpiuk made last statement in Russian court. PHOTOS Ukrainian political prisoner Mykola Karpiuk, held in the Russian Federation, believes he is tried not for the events that happened 20 years ago, but because he is a Ukrainian. 37 246 118 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Chechen court rejected appeal of political prisoners Karpiuk and Klykh The Supreme Court of Chechnya has denied an appeal of Ukrainian political prisoners Mykola Karpiuk and Stanislav Klykh, accused of killing Russian servicemen. 87 547 117 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Pussy Riot held event in support of Ukrainian director Oleh Sentsov. VIDEO Activists from Pussy Riot, a Russian feminist protest punk rock group, unfolded a Free Sentsov banner in the Russian city of Yakutsk in support of Oleh Sentsov, a Ukrainian film director and political prisoner jailed in Russia. 24 405 116 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Savchenko goes on dry hunger strike today, - lawyer The Ukrainian aviatrix, illegally convicted and kept by the Kremlin, has announced going on dry hunger strike from April 6. 21 056 115 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Kremlin-held Ukrainian Hryb got beaten, robbed by inmates as he was escorted from Krasnodar to Rostov-on-Don prison, his father says Ukrainian political prisoner Pavlo Hryb held in Russia was beaten by convicts who found out the charges brought against him. They also took all his personal belongings and food earlier brought to him by Ukrainian consuls. 23 453 113 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Moscow Basmanny Court Prolonged Arrest of Ukrainian Pilot Nadiia Savchenko Until February 13 Basmanny Court of the city of Moscow extended the arrest of Ukrainian pilot Nadiia Savchenko, who is accused of involvement in the murder of Russian journalists near Luhansk. 8 067 112
Savchenko Demands Russian Federation Investigative Committee to Stop Criminal Proceedings Against Her - Lawyer. DOCUMENT Lawyers of Ukrainian pilot and the Verkhovna Rada deputy Nadia Savchenko arrested by Russia insist that the Russian Federation Investigative Committee suspend the criminal proceedings against her as the prisoner of war. 15 379 112 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine
Nadiya Savchenko on upcoming court hearing: "I do not let myself die in order to see it". DOCUMENT Ukrainian aviatrix, Batkivshchyna MP Madiya Savchenko, who is illegally held in Russia, hopes that the upcoming court hearing will drop the charges against her and the case will be closed, or at least the measure of restraint will be changed. 8 134 105
"Fly Away, Viktor!" - Sevastopol Decorated With Yanukovych and Azarov Shot in the Head. PHOTOS The walls of the buildings in Sevastopil were painted with images of President Viktor Yanukovych and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov with a red dot on their foreheads called bindi in India. 24 035 100
US to continue pressing Russia for return of all unlawfully detained people, Samantha Power says The United States will continue to press Russia for complete implementation of its commitments under the Minsk agreements. 7 061 100 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Savchenko goes on indefinite dry hunger strike from April 6. STATEMENT (in Ukrainian) Member of the Ukrainian Parliament Nadiia Savchenko, sentenced to 22 years in prison in Russia, has announced going on an indefinite dry hunger strike from Wednesday, April 6 demanding her immediate escorting to Ukraine. 18 939 100 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Hryb got beaten up both by remand prison wardens and inmates, - lawyer Political prisoner Pavlo Hryb is beaten up in jail in Russian Rostov-on-Don because of his Ukrainian citizenship. 25 133 99 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Ombudsperson Denisova fails to visit Sentsov: "We were told to leave prison" The chief of Russian Labytnangi-based correctional facility, where Crimea-born Ukrainian political prisoner Oleh Sentsov is held, gave Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova no consent to visit the filmmaker on June 15. 34 161 94 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Ukrainian political prisoner Kolchenko hospitalized over weight loss, - human rights activists. PHOTO Russian doctors have reported of no deviations in the state of health of Ukrainian political prisoner Oleksandr Kolchenko. 35 845 91 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Putin pardoned political prisoners Afanasiev and Soloshenko President Vladimir Putin of Russia has pardoned Ukrainian nationals Hennadii Afanasiev and Yurii Soloshenko, unlawfully convicted in Russia. 13 540 86 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Savchenko List handed over to EU leaders made public. DOCUMENT Ukrainian authorities have entered in the list Head of the Russian Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia Alexander Bastrykin, Head of the Main Investigation Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Shchukin, Russian investigators, prosecutors and judges. The list contains a total of 46 individuals. 44 251 84 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Office of President of Ukraine: Prisoner swap still ongoing The information about the completion of the prisoner exchange between Ukraine and the Russian Federation is untrue. The process of prisoner swap is still ongoing. 7 178 77 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Sentsov: I testified about FSB tortures for The Hague Tribunal Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov, who has been recently released from Russian prison, said he had testified about tortures experienced in captivity for The Hague Tribunal. 11 747 74 Previously in trend: Prisoner swap
"We were prosecuted because we are Ukrainians, because I am Ukrainian patriot," – Karpiuk delivers last plea in Russian court The Russian Federation has persecuted Ukrainian political prisoners Mykola Karpiuk and Stanislav Klykh only because they are Ukrainians. 21 322 73 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
MP Iryna Herashchenko: Russia refused to swap its nationals serving terms in Ukrainian prisons for our political prisoners The Russian Federation refused to exchange its citizens serving prison terms in Ukraine for Ukrainian political prisoners held in Russia. 6 974 71 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Russian court extends film director Sentsov’s imprisonment until Dec. 16 The North Caucasus district military Court (the Russian Federation) extended the imprisonment of the Ukrainian film-maker Oleh Sentsov until Dec. 16. 3 753 71
Balukh's mother not going to ask Putin to pardon her son as it would mean admitting his guilt. VIDEO Natalia Balukh, mother of Ukrainian political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh hunger-striking in Crimean remand prison, says she is not going not ask President Vladimir Putin of Russia to pardon her son. 18 304 71 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Relatives, activists, and Ukrainian MPs initiate rally in support of Savchenko outside jail The rally in support of Nadiia Savchenko will begin in Novocherkassk, the Rostov region of the Russian Federation, on March 10 at 10 a.m. outside the prison where the Ukrainian pilot is illegally held. 53 143 68 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Council of Europe chief formally requested Russia's Putin to pardon Sentsov Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland filed a petition to President Vladimir Putin of Russia for pardoning a hunger-striking Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, unlawfully convicted on trumped-up "terrorism" charges. 21 860 67 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Ukraine is ready to exchange citizens of Russia for Russian political prisoners, - Defense Intelligence Ukraine is ready to exchange Russian civilians and "conditional Medvedchuks" held in Ukrainian prisons for civilians who opposed the war and received sentences in Russia. But the priority remains the release of prisoners of war. 6 658 64 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War
Savchenko to be transferred to Moscow city hospital tomorrow - lawyer Ukrainian pilot, MP of Batkivshchyna faction Nadiya Savchenko, who is illegally held in the Russian remand prison, will be transferred to the 20th city hospital of Moscow tomorrow, April 28. 12 072 58
Meryl Streep supported campaign for release of Russia-imprisoned director Sentsov. PHOTO U.S. actress Meryl Streep has voiced support for Ukrainian director Oleh Sentsov, who had been illegally sentenced in Russia. 24 508 57 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Foreign Ministry presented "28 prisoners of the Kremlin" report to foreign diplomats. DOCUMENT "28 prisoners of the Kremlin" report has been presented to representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations at "Crimea. Occupation. Two years thereafter" briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. 19 237 53 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
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