Police in Belarus have conducted raids on event management companies suspected of having ties to the opposition, as part of an ongoing crackdown on dissent. Videos of detained employees allegedly admitting to links with opposition leaders and participating in protests in 2020 were released by authorities, though the authenticity of the footage is unclear. The crackdown comes in the wake of mass demonstrations in Belarus following President Alexander Lukashenko’s disputed election victory.
The raids led to the detention of at least four people, including Belarusian comic Kiryl Allahverdzyan, who claimed he was invited by an opposition TV channel to appear in humorous clips about law enforcement. Another detainee, Aleh Astralenka, admitted to participating in opposition marches in 2020 and subsequently faced consequences for his actions. Belarusian human rights center Viasna reported that there are currently 1,391 political prisoners in the country, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.
The report published by Viasna highlighted that 161 people were convicted in political cases in May alone, demonstrating the risks faced by those who criticize Belarus’ political situation. The crackdown on dissent has drawn condemnation from international human rights organizations, with concerns raised about arbitrary convictions and inhumane conditions for those detained. The situation in Belarus continues to be closely monitored as the government’s actions against dissent persist.
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