A former Belarusian political prisoner has expressed reservations about a possible easing of Western sanctions against Belarus, arguing that repression continues despite several prisoner releases. According to her, lifting sanctions while arrests persist risks sending the wrong message.
Belarusian journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva, released in March as part of an agreement between Minsk and the United States concerning sanctions, spoke in Geneva on Monday. She noted that many opposition figures remain imprisoned and that new arrests continue to be reported in the country.
According to a United Nations report, more than 950 political prisoners are still being held in Belarus. This figure fuels concerns among human rights organizations, which denounce the continued repression against opponents of the regime.
Katsiaryna Andreyeva described the detention conditions as "difficult" and expressed concern for the fate of those still imprisoned. She stressed that individual releases should not obscure the overall human rights situation in the country.
The former prisoner believes that any discussion on easing sanctions should take into account the ongoing arrests and repression. In her view, diplomatic concessions should only be made once sustained progress is demonstrated regarding fundamental freedoms and the release of political prisoners.
His statements come as several Western countries review their relations with Minsk, in a context where human rights issues and sanctions remain at the heart of diplomatic discussions concerning Belarus.
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