Belarusian activist dies in prison: political fears rise

A Belarusian political activist, previously jailed for “defamation” against President Alexander Lukashenko, has passed away in prison, as reported by his political party and confirmed by human rights NGO Viasna. Igor Lednik, aged 64, was a former member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party, activist, and journalist.

He was imprisoned in 2022 and received a three-year sentence for “defamation” of the Belarusian president in an article published in the Social Democrats’ newspaper. While in prison, his health significantly deteriorated, with the party noting his existing heart condition and prior gastrointestinal surgery. However, the exact cause and date of death were not specified.

Svetlana Tikhanoskaya, an opposition leader in exile, attributed Lednik’s death to the authorities, labelling it as “an injustice and an incredible tragedy.” Last month, another opposition figure, Vadzim Khrasko, passed away from pneumonia in a penal colony, with human rights organizations stating that he had not received necessary medical attention while in jail.

The Belarusian government, under President Lukashenko’s longstanding rule since 1994, has intensified its crackdown on dissenters following widespread protests following the disputed 2020 presidential election, which the West alleges was fraudulent. According to Viasna, there are presently over 1,400 political detainees in Belarus. In January, the West condemned Belarus for a series of raids during which more than 150 individuals were reportedly detained or questioned by the security service, as per rights groups’ claims.

Due to the crackdown, there will be no significant opposition presence in the legislative elections scheduled for February 25. Tikhanovskaya mentioned that an additional 10 political detainees were experiencing health issues while enduring harsh conditions in prison.