Thousands of Belarusians have been convicted on politically-driven charges over the last three years as part of the authorities' relentless crackdown on dissent, according to the Viasna human rights group.
Key Points
Over 4,690 people convicted on politically-motivated charges since 2020
At least 1,300 people faced criminal investigation on political grounds last year
More than 35,000 people were arrested in the crackdown
At least five political prisoners died in custody in the last three years
Pros
Raising awareness about human rights violations in Belarus
Highlighting the need for international intervention