RMN Foundation

RMN Foundation Appeals for the Release of Political Prisoners in Belarus

As the attacks on human rights activists continue to escalate in Belarus, hundreds of political prisoners have been languishing in jails. RMN Foundation appeals to the despotic Belarusian regime to release all political prisoners immediately.

The Human Rights Center “Viasna” reports that by the end of 2022, there were 1,446 political prisoners in Belarus while 889 people were recognized as political prisoners.

Viasna is a non-governmental human rights organization, formed in 1996 during mass protest actions of the democratic opposition in Belarus. In 2022, according to Viasna,  arrests, torture, and criminal proceedings on political grounds against Belarusian activists continued. 

“The Belarusian regime should respect democratic and human rights principles and immediately release all prisoners who have been arbitrarily detained for expressing their political views,” said Rakesh Raman, founder of the RMN Foundation.

He added that the international community should take some concrete steps to restore democracy in Belarus as most citizens believe that the presidential election in 2020 was not fair.

When the intensity of protests increased, President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime in Belarus shut down dozens of independent organizations and media outlets. The regime also harassed the Viasna activists.

The attacks on Viasna are part of a broader crackdown on civil society while the Belarus government has prosecuted and jailed critics and peaceful protesters, forcing many to flee the country.

Hundreds of Belarusians have been arrested and jailed because they peacefully exercised their rights to freedom of expression and assembly in response to a fraudulent election in August 2020 that allowed Lukashenko to retain power.

Human rights activist and the founder of Viasna Human Rights Center, Ales Bialiatski who is Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has also been arrested by the Lukashenko’s regime.

He was arrested in July 2021 on tax evasion charges, which are believed to be politically motivated. Bialiatski and two other activists have been kept in harsh conditions in a Minsk prison. Their trial began in Belarus on January 5, 2023 and they faced up to 12 years in jail.

Since all international efforts, including sanctions, to tame the dictatorial Lukashenko regime have failed, RMN Foundation urges the UN and other democratic forces in the world to take military action to save people from Lukashenko’s atrocities.

The international community should also intervene to help hold a free and fair election in Belarus so that people could live in a new democratic environment.

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About RMN Foundation

RMN Foundation is the humanitarian initiative of Raman Media Network (RMN) News Service. It runs various projects and campaigns in the areas of human rights, environment protection, school education, and corruption prevention. 

Currently, all the activities of RMN Foundation are being managed single-handedly (without any support) by its founder Rakesh Raman who is a national award-winning journalist.

Earlier, he had been associated with the United Nations (UN) through the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as a digital media expert to help businesses use technology for brand marketing and business development.

People and organizations from all over the world are invited to join hands with RMN Foundation as donors, volunteers, and partners to carry out humanitarian activities for diverse communities.

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Contact

Rakesh Raman
Editor, RMN News Service [ Website ]
Founder, RMN Foundation [ Website ]
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