Belarus Police Raid Event Management Companies Suspected of Opposition Ties
Belarusian authorities have launched a crackdown on event management companies with suspected opposition ties, as part of their ongoing efforts to suppress dissent in the country. The raids, which took place in the capital of Minsk and across Belarus, led to the detention of at least four people, including comedian Kiryl Allahverdzyan.
Videos released by authorities show detained staffers admitting to participating in the mass protests that swept Belarus in 2020, following the disputed re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko. The crackdown on dissent has resulted in the detention of around 35,000 people, with 1,391 political prisoners currently behind bars, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.
The detained individuals, including those from event management firm Pink Zebra, confessed to their involvement in opposition marches and expressed regret for their actions. The deputy director of Pink Zebra, Aleh Astralenka, admitted to participating in opposition marches and stated that his company would no longer be included on the government’s register of cultural event organizers as a result.
The Belarusian human rights center, Viasna, condemned the crackdown, stating that anyone who criticizes Belarus’ political situation risks arbitrary conviction and inhumane treatment. The use of forced confessions and pressure on individuals with opposition ties is a troubling sign of the government’s continued efforts to stifle dissent and silence voices of opposition in Belarus.
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