The open letter from the Nobel laureates was published on the website of political scientist Dmitry Bolkunets. It states that since 2020, mass repressions have continued in Belarus. More than 300,000 people have left the country, and thousands have fallen victim to torture.
«We call on world leaders, public figures, and all honest people to support the campaign for the release of prisoners of conscience in Belarus. The fate of thousands of people depends on decisive and coordinated actions by the international community», — says the appeal, which was signed by 31 Nobel laureates.
Among the signatories are Dmitry Muratov, writer Svetlana Alexievich, Ukrainian human rights activist Oleksandra Matviychuk, and many others.
«We urge Donald Trump and EU leaders to take urgent measures for the release of all political prisoners. Indifference is not an option when thousands of people are suffering», — says the letter.
The authors of the letter also reminded that among the political prisoners is Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, as well as teachers, doctors, and workers. Some have already died in custody.
According to the human rights center «Viasna», there are 1,218 political prisoners in Belarus. 39 of them are being prosecuted for «treason».
Earlier, the publication The New York Times reported on a possible deal between Washington and Minsk, under which the US would lift some sanctions in exchange for the release of prisoners.
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