Belarusian authorities have intensified their crackdown on dissent by raiding event management companies suspected of having ties with the opposition. The raids resulted in the detention of several individuals, including comedian Kiryl Allahverdzyan, who admitted to cooperating with opposition media. Another individual, Aleh Astralenka, confessed to participating in opposition marches in 2020, leading to repercussions for his company.
The crackdown comes in the wake of the mass protests that erupted in Belarus following the disputed re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko in 2020. The demonstrations were met with a violent response from the authorities, resulting in the detention of thousands of people. The Belarusian human rights center Viasna reported that there are currently 1,391 political prisoners in the country, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.
According to Viasna, 161 people were convicted in political cases in May alone, highlighting the government’s continued suppression of dissent. The report also warned that anyone who has participated in protests or criticized the political situation in Belarus is at risk of arbitrary conviction and harsh treatment in prison.
The international community has condemned Belarus for its human rights violations and called for the release of political prisoners. The raids on event management companies are seen as part of a broader effort by the authorities to silence opposition voices and maintain control over the country.
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