Amnesty International recognized Lukashenko's competitors as prisoners of conscience

“Belarusian authorities must stop criminal prosecution, intimidation and repression against opponents of Alexander Lukashenko and their supporters, civil society activists and independent media,” Amnesty International said in a special statement.

According to the human rights center Viasna, Amnesty International has called Siarhei Tsikhanouski and the eight people arrested with him prisoners of conscience, as they were imprisoned solely in connection with the peaceful exercise of their rights. In addition, Viktor and Eduard Babariko became prisoners of conscience, who are persecuted solely for the peaceful expression of their political views.

Amnesty International also condemns the mass persecution of bloggers and journalists, in particular Sergei Bagrov, Sergei Latinsky, Igor Losik, Vladimir Neronsky, Sergei Petrukhin and Vladimir Tsyganovich.

The document emphasizes that the increased crackdown on the right to freedom of expression, the rights to peaceful assembly and association in the context of the upcoming elections in Belarus has revealed many other human rights problems, including discrimination against women, sometimes taking the form of overt misogyny, widely broadcast by major state MASS MEDIA.

“The authorities must promptly, thoroughly, objectively, effectively and transparently investigate all reports of excessive use of physical force by law enforcement officials and ill-treatment of detainees, as well as all cases of threats, attacks and insults,” the appeal says.