Experts from the U.N. Human Rights Commission have made a plea to Belarusian authorities to consider pardoning an opposition politician, Ryhor Kastusiou, who has been diagnosed with a severe form of cancer while in prison. Kastusiou, 66, is the leader of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) party and is currently serving a 10-year sentence on charges of 'conspiracy to seize power.' The BPF, one of Belarus's oldest political parties, was liquidated by the Belarusian Supreme Court in 2023.
The U.N. experts have emphasized the urgent need for Belarusian authorities to take into account Kastusiou's deteriorating health condition and to potentially grant him a pardon or remission of sentence. Kastusiou, who was detained in April 2021, has faced harsh conditions during his almost three years of detention, including being placed in punishment cells known for their inhumane treatment.
Reports indicate that Kastusiou was diagnosed with cancer shortly after his arrest, but delays in receiving medical results prevented him from seeking release on medical grounds. The U.N. experts have raised concerns that the inadequate medical care and poor conditions in detention facilities may constitute torture, and they are actively engaging with Belarusian authorities on Kastusiou's case.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, currently in exile in Lithuania, has joined the calls for Kastusiou's release, highlighting the mistreatment he has endured despite his serious health condition. Tsikhanouskaya criticized the treatment of political prisoners in Belarus, where a crackdown on dissent has intensified since the disputed 2020 presidential election that kept President Alexander Lukashenko in power.
The aftermath of the election saw widespread protests and a wave of arrests, with over 35,000 demonstrators detained by Belarusian authorities. The situation has led to a mass exodus of individuals fleeing the country, while many have been subjected to harsh treatment and labeled as extremists. Human rights group Viasna reports that there are currently 1,421 political prisoners in Belarus, including prominent figures like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. Tragically, at least five political prisoners have lost their lives while in detention in Belarus.
