📚 Ales Bialiatski presents his prison notes at the Bok & Vandring in Sweden Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Viasna chairperson Ales Bialiatski took part in the Bok & Vandring event, where he presented notes from the new Swedish-language chapter of his book "Ales". spring96.org/en/news/120794

🥵 Hot weather behind bars turns into an additional punishment Former political prisoners spoke about the conditions of detention in Belarusian prisons in the summer. Read 👉 spring96.org/en/news/120759

❗ At least 29 political prisoners are currently held in Belarusian places of detention after being sentenced to 20 years or more in prison. They include two women and four foreign nationals. The vast majority of those sentenced — 25 people — were charged with an "act of terrorism."

❤️‍🩹"They stripped me even of my name". Marfa Rabkova in an interview with Viasna She spoke about years in prison, teaching prison cadets humanity with the help of Harry Potter, how she was forbidden from being called Marfa in the penal colony, and her feelings at liberty. spring96.org/en/news/120731

👏 Valiantsin Stefanovic receives the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights Although the award was presented on December 10, 2025, Valiantsin's name was deliberately withheld from the official list of 14 laureates from around the world for security reasons. spring96.org/en/news/120728

🔗 Five years since the arrest of Viasna's human rights defenders On July 14, 2021, security forces raided the homes and offices of the organization across Belarus, detaining Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, Uladzimir Labkovich. Today, all three are safe and continue their human rights work.

In an interview with Columbia Global Freedom of Expression, UN Special Rapporteur on #Belarus Nils Muiznieks spoke about the country’s unabating crackdown on dissent, how the landscape for independent media has changed since 2020, and his priorities for the coming year. @cgfoe.bsky.social

❗ UN experts expressed serious concern over the arbitrary invalidation of passports of 8 former political prisoners forcibly expelled from #Belarus after their release from detention, warning the measure may amount to a continuing form of transnational repression. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Hidden Repression: The external calm in Belarus is an illusion that hides harsh and deep pressure Viasna has published a report, Hidden Repression in Belarus 2020–2026, examining how the nature of repression in the country has fundamentally changed over the past 6 years. spring96.org/en/news/120627

#OSCE: "International justice is a marathon, not a sprint," says IAPB head Andrea Huber Andrea Huber, head of the International Accountability Platform for Belarus (IAPB), spoke at the OSCE conference Preventing Torture and Ill-treatment. Read more: spring96.org/en/news/120635

❗ Global Torture Index 2026: #Belarus classified as a country with a very high risk of torture The Global Torture Index assesses national legal systems, state policies, and their practical impact on international human rights standards across seven thematic areas. www.omct.org/en/global-to...

⚡️32 people have been pardoned in #Belarus Of them, 28 are political prisoners. Those released include 20 women and 12 men. Traditionally, Lukashenka signed the decree on the eve of Belarus's Independence Day. Full list of political prisoners - prisoners.spring96.org/en #FreeThemAll

"The release of all political prisoners and justice for victims must remain non-negotiable demands." Valiantsin Stefanovic, former Vice-President of FIDH, delivered a joint statement on behalf of FIDH and Viasna during the interactive dialogue on the human rights situation in #Belarus at the #HRC62.

#HRC62: Repression in Belarus now targets culture, education, and language UN Special Rapporteur emphasizes that the authorities increasingly regard the use of the Belarusian language as a sign of political disloyalty and persecute people for using it. 👉 digitallibrary.un.org/record/4117856

📢 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: "The main thing to know about torture in #Belarus is that it continues" Interview with Pavel Sapelka, a human rights activist and expert at Viasna - spring96.org/en/news/120587

❗️Political prisoner Vasil Verameichyk has likely suffered a heart attack After being transferred to a penal colony, he underwent medical examinations and was prescribed several powerful medications. However, instead of receiving a planned operation, Vasil was transferred to a cell-type facility.

❗ The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders strongly condemns the arbitrary detention and judicial harassment against Uladzimir Tselyapun, and urges the Belarusian authorities to immediately put an end to all acts of persecution against him. spring96.org/en/news/120490

❗️More than 30 searches across Belarus: the European Humanities University case The security forces have initiated a criminal case for facilitating and financing "extremist activities". Viasna reports what is known about the new repressive campaign - spring96.org/en/news/120433

❗ Crisis in the labour sector in Belarus requires an immediate and coordinated international response ❓ What human rights defenders and trade union activists are calling for - spring96.org/en/news/120422

📢UN experts expressed grave concern over the continued detention, alleged ill-treatment and denial of adequate medical care to political prisoners in #Belarus This refers to Aliaksandra Pulinovich, Volha Mayorava, Yahor Volkau, Stsiapan Latypau and Viachaslau Areshka. spring96.org/en/news/120397

Children's Day: stories of the persecution of teenage political prisoners in Belarus In 2025, at least 40 teenagers were convicted on political charges. The most teenagers — 16 people — were convicted for "active participation in actions grossly violating public order". spring96.org/en/news/120389

🙏 Ales Bialiatski, chairman of Viasna and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, met with Pope Leo XIV After Mass in Saint Peter's Square, Bialiatski had the opportunity to speak briefly with the Pope and hand him a letter concerning the human rights situation and the rights of believers in Belarus.

❗️ A “gift” from the Lukashenka regime for the Day of Political Prisoners On May 21, security forces carried out a wave of searches at the registered addresses of Belarusians who had left the country due to political persecution. Viasna views this pressure as a form of transnational repression.

📊Day of Political Prisoners in Belarus Over the past 5 years, thousands of Belarusians have been subjected to political persecution, and at least 9 political prisoners have died in detention. Viasna publishes infographics with the latest figures on political prisoners. spring96.org/en/news/120313

⁉️ Why pardon without rehabilitation does not mean freedom Viasna explains why pardoning without full rehabilitation remains only a partial step, and why the human rights community insists on restoring all the rights of former political prisoners. 👉 spring96.org/en/news/120264

🗣️ No to torture! May 21 is the Day of Political Prisoners This year, human rights activists are dedicating the Day of Political Prisoners to freedom from torture and ill-treatment as a reminder that torture is absolutely prohibited. More 👉 spring96.org/en/news/120244 #PrisonersDayBelarus

Valiantsin Stefanovic is one of the most famous Belarusian human rights defenders. He has always defended other people's right to choose. However, he himself was deprived of this right, forcibly deported from Belarus after almost five years of imprisonment. Read 👉 spring96.org/en/news/120195

❗️Belarus authorities have designated the Swedish International Liberal Centre an “extremist organization” SILC is a Swedish political foundation established in the late 1980s. It supports activists in authoritarian countries, helping them advance democracy, human rights, and civil society.

❗ Today, there are +10 political prisoners in #Belarus There are 841 political prisoners in total. Full list - prisoners.spring96.org/en

❗ Among those released today are Polish citizens and political prisoners in Belarus Grzegorz Gaweł and Tomasz Biaroza.