Belarusian government refutes existence of political prisoners

It is said in the document “Opinion about conclusions and/or recommendations” Belarus sent to the UN Human Rights Committee. In particular, it says: “Statements about detentions and making people stand trial for political reasons said to be observed in Belarus are groundless”. This is the response to the French government’s recommendation. It urged “to respond to the numerous appeals of the international community to release political prisoners and to stop organizing trials for political reasons”.

Belarusian human rights activists disagree with it. Let us remind you that the head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Aleh Hulak claimed at a presentation of the human rights situation monitoring in Belarus on September 10:

"The problem of political prisoners still exists in Belarus. We think that all the people imprisoned because of Autuhovich’s case are political prisoners”.  

Furthermore, human rights activists remind that Maxim Dashuk who stood trial according to “the case of 14” is still serving his sentence, Syarhey Kavalenka was sentenced to restriction of liberty and Mihas Bashura has been detained.