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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
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. 254 097 599
"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. 118 627 936 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. 111 527 266 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. 108 104 129 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. 105 109 429 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
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. 93 826 470 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine
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. 89 993 444 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. 87 576 117 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
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. 84 664 138 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
69-year-old pensioner from Tokmak sentenced to 15 years for donations to Armed Forces of Ukraine. VIDEO The occupation court in the Zaporizhzhia region found Tokmak resident Svitlana Loy guilty of " high treason" for transferring money to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The woman, who had obtained a Russian passport, transferred 63,420 roubles from her Ukrainian pension. 68 954 21 Previously in trend: Ukrainians convicted in the Russian Federation
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. 61 640 208 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. 56 970 225 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. 56 958 204 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. 53 153 68 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. 50 025 197
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. 49 535 452
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. 44 265 84 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. 40 141 159 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. 39 418 138 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
"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. 37 278 118 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. 35 865 91 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
"They implanted some black capsule-like things under his skin, which exploded; threatened to cut off his hands if he continued resisting," – Klykh’s mother dwelt on tortures of her son in Russian prison Ukrainian political prisoner Stanislav Klykh told his mother he had been severely tortured in the Russian prison and had been subjected to violence until present. 35 539 47 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. 34 189 94 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
"He was studying, passing tests and never visited Chechnya," - Ukrainian political prisoner Klykh’s mother. PHOTO Ukrainian political prisoner Stanislav Klykh’s mother insists that her son has never been to Chechnya before his abduction by the Russian secret services, not to mention his participation in battles there. The woman is currently in Grozny (Chechen Republic), where the mock trial of Ukrainians Karpiuk and Klykh, who are held hostages by the Kremlin, should have been held today. 31 054 35 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Vira Savchenko faced arrest in Chechnya, - lawyer Novikov Sister of Nadiia Savchenko, Vira, who was allowed to court trial against human rights activist Mykola Karpiuk, could be arrested "for insulting the judge," lawyer Ilya Novikov said. 31 048 53 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine
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. 29 723 140
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. 25 151 99 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
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. 24 529 57 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. 24 423 116 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
"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. 24 039 100
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. 23 477 113 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
"I am Ukrainian citizen, and all attempts to impose Russian citizenship on me are against my will," - Ukrainian political prisoner Afanasiev. VIDEO Ukrainian political prisoner Hennadii Afanasiev, kept in Russia, told about attempts to impose Russian citizenship on him. 23 376 47 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Pilot Savchenko Officially Recognized as Political Prisoner - Her Lawyer Advocates of Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko continue to seek a political prisoner status for her. 22 641 30 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine
"I do not plead guilty," - Ukrainian Pavlo Hryb in Russian court. PHOTO The Russian Rostov-based court started hearing the case of Ukrainian political prisoner Pavlo Hryb today. 22 631 19 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
"I feel no despair but confidence in my right," - activists published letter of Russian-held journalist Sushchenko. PHOTO Yana Goncharova, the coordinator of Russia's human rights project RosUznik (Russian prisoner), has visited Ukrainian reporter Roman Sushchenko who was illegally apprehended in Moscow. 22 409 6 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. 21 875 67 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
"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. 21 333 73 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. 21 072 115 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. 19 250 53 Previously in trend: 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. 18 967 100 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
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. 18 318 71 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. 18 293 118
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. 18 201 181 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
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. 15 398 112 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine
Kidnapped Ukrainian citizen Hryb charged with plotting terrorist attack in school, - Kommersant Russian authorities have charged Ukrainian citizen Pavlo Hryb, who is held in pretrial detention center in Krasnodar, with "plotting a terrorist attack in school." 15 349 47 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Consuls allowed to see Savchenko, while mother and sister banned from visits Nadiia Savchenko is currently visited by Consul General of Ukraine in Rostov-on-Don Vitalii Moskalenko and Consul Oleksandr Kovtun in the 3rd remand prison of Novocherkassk, the Rostov region of Russia. Nadiia's family - mother Mariia and sister Vira - have not yet been allowed to see Savchenko. 15 166 12 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. 14 051 332 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
Russia denies death of Ukrainian citizen Artur Panov Consulate General of Ukraine in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, says Ukrainian political prisoner Artur Panov is alive. 13 617 24 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia
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