Post by Bonobo on Dec 24, 2021 15:38:49 GMT 1
On this day, when families are together, let`s not forget about Belarussians who are jailed for their opposition to their mad regime led by Lukashenka. Especially let`s remember and say prayers for Polish activists - leaders of the Polish Union in Belarus. It is over 9 months since they were arrested and have been kept in prisons without a trial.
tvpworld.com/56085781/situation-of-polish-activists-detained-in-belarus-is-difficult-dep-fm
Situation of Polish activists detained in Belarus is difficult: dep FM
kk/tm 28.09.2021, 09:38
“The situation around Andżelika Borys and Andrzej Poczobut is very difficult. The Belarusian authorities refuse to allow us to contact them, but we continue our efforts to release them,” Marcin Przydacz, deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP). He stressed that international pressure on the Minsk regime was insufficient.
In September, six months had passed since Andżelika Borys, the head of the Union of Poles in Belarus, and Andrzej Poczobut, an activist and journalist, were arrested. They are in harsh conditions in custody, accused by the Belarusian authorities of “inciting hatred.”
“The situation around Andżelika Borys and Andrzej Poczobut is very difficult. Belarusian authorities refuse Polish consuls and Polish diplomatic services to contact prisoners directly, arguing that these people are not Polish, but Belarusian citizens,” Mr Przydacz said , commenting on the matter.
“Of course, we do not stop in our efforts and our diplomatic services... are trying to force the Belarusian side to allow them to contact the inmates,” he reported, stressing that the goal of Polish diplomacy is to free the arrested.
The deputy chief of Polish diplomacy pointed out that over 700 innocent people, mainly journalists and political activists, have been detained in Belarus over the last year.
“It all shows how authoritarian governments are doing in a situation where this international pressure is sometimes insufficient, and this is the case here.”
When asked whether Poland would strive on the international forum to tighten sanctions on Minsk, Mr Przydacz replied that several tranches of sanctions had already been carried out, but if they did not bring any effect, further steps would be taken.
The President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, during his speech at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, demanded that the rights of Belarusian oppositionists and activists of the Polish minority be respected and the release of all political prisoners in Belaru
tvn24.pl/tvn24-news-in-english/belarusian-human-rights-watchdogs-say-detained-polish-activists-are-political-prisoners-5058564
Members of the Union of Poles in Belarus - Andżelika Borys, Andrzej Poczobut, Irena Biernacka, Maria Tiszkowska and Anna Paniszewa have been recognised by Belarusian human rights organisations as political prisoners. The watchdogs also called on Belarusian authorities for their immediate release.
The Belarusian human rights community issued a joint statement regarding the detained Polish activists.
"The criminal prosecution of Andżelika Borys, Andrzej Poczobut, Maria Tiszkowska, Anna Paniszewa and Irena Biernacka is of apparent politically motivated nature, as it is aimed at creating the image of the enemy, both embodied by the Polish state as a whole and the Polish national minority, in particular, and therefore considers them as political prisoners" - belsat.eu wrote on its website in English.
Among the signatories of the resolution adopted on Wednesday by the independent human rights organisations in Belarus are: Viasna Human Rights Centre, Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Belarusian Association of Journalists, and other organisations.
"Belarusian human rights activists call on the authorities of the Republic of Belarus to immediately release the representatives of the Union of Poles in Belarus, drop criminal charges against them, and stop pressure and persecution against members of the Polish national minority" - reads the English version of the resolution.
Borys, Poczobut, Biernacka and Tiszkowska are all members of the Union of Poles in Belarus. Anna Paniszewa is a Polish activist from Brest, and the headmaster of the local Polish school. All of them have been charged by the prosecutor under Art. 130-3 of the Criminal Code (deliberate actions aimed at inciting national and religious hatred according to national, religious, language, other social affiliation, as well as through justifying Nazism, which were committed by a group of persons). The prosecution claims their activity was relevant to"‘the rehabilitation of Nazism and justifying the genocide of the Belarusian people". Such offense carries a prison sentence up to 12 years.
The human rights watchdogs also stressed in the statement that "it should be noted that these actions of the authorities are taking place against the background of anti-Polish propaganda on state TV, in which Poland is described as an aggressor, which allegedly has, among other things, territorial claims to the Republic of Belarus".
"Mimicking the worst Stalinist traditions, the aggressive anti-Polish state propaganda causes serious concern, as it carries negative consequences for the citizens of the Republic of Belarus of Polish nationality and clearly does not promote the policy of good neighborhood and trust between the two historically close nations" - reads the statement.
"Of course, we must remember and speak about the difficult periods of our history, including for the purpose of interethnic reconciliation, rather than incitement to mutual hostility and suspicion, in order to prevent xenophobia and discrimination against various groups in society, including the inadmissibility of persecution of dissent" - the Belarusian activist groups added.
The Union of Poles in Belarus is the largest Polish minority organisation. In 2005, authorities in Minsk revoked its registration. The statutory goals of the union include cultivating Polishness, promoting Polish culture, teaching Polish language, preserving memorial sites.
tvpworld.com/56085781/situation-of-polish-activists-detained-in-belarus-is-difficult-dep-fm
Situation of Polish activists detained in Belarus is difficult: dep FM
kk/tm 28.09.2021, 09:38
“The situation around Andżelika Borys and Andrzej Poczobut is very difficult. The Belarusian authorities refuse to allow us to contact them, but we continue our efforts to release them,” Marcin Przydacz, deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP). He stressed that international pressure on the Minsk regime was insufficient.
In September, six months had passed since Andżelika Borys, the head of the Union of Poles in Belarus, and Andrzej Poczobut, an activist and journalist, were arrested. They are in harsh conditions in custody, accused by the Belarusian authorities of “inciting hatred.”
“The situation around Andżelika Borys and Andrzej Poczobut is very difficult. Belarusian authorities refuse Polish consuls and Polish diplomatic services to contact prisoners directly, arguing that these people are not Polish, but Belarusian citizens,” Mr Przydacz said , commenting on the matter.
“Of course, we do not stop in our efforts and our diplomatic services... are trying to force the Belarusian side to allow them to contact the inmates,” he reported, stressing that the goal of Polish diplomacy is to free the arrested.
The deputy chief of Polish diplomacy pointed out that over 700 innocent people, mainly journalists and political activists, have been detained in Belarus over the last year.
“It all shows how authoritarian governments are doing in a situation where this international pressure is sometimes insufficient, and this is the case here.”
When asked whether Poland would strive on the international forum to tighten sanctions on Minsk, Mr Przydacz replied that several tranches of sanctions had already been carried out, but if they did not bring any effect, further steps would be taken.
The President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, during his speech at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, demanded that the rights of Belarusian oppositionists and activists of the Polish minority be respected and the release of all political prisoners in Belaru
tvn24.pl/tvn24-news-in-english/belarusian-human-rights-watchdogs-say-detained-polish-activists-are-political-prisoners-5058564
Members of the Union of Poles in Belarus - Andżelika Borys, Andrzej Poczobut, Irena Biernacka, Maria Tiszkowska and Anna Paniszewa have been recognised by Belarusian human rights organisations as political prisoners. The watchdogs also called on Belarusian authorities for their immediate release.
The Belarusian human rights community issued a joint statement regarding the detained Polish activists.
"The criminal prosecution of Andżelika Borys, Andrzej Poczobut, Maria Tiszkowska, Anna Paniszewa and Irena Biernacka is of apparent politically motivated nature, as it is aimed at creating the image of the enemy, both embodied by the Polish state as a whole and the Polish national minority, in particular, and therefore considers them as political prisoners" - belsat.eu wrote on its website in English.
Among the signatories of the resolution adopted on Wednesday by the independent human rights organisations in Belarus are: Viasna Human Rights Centre, Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Belarusian Association of Journalists, and other organisations.
"Belarusian human rights activists call on the authorities of the Republic of Belarus to immediately release the representatives of the Union of Poles in Belarus, drop criminal charges against them, and stop pressure and persecution against members of the Polish national minority" - reads the English version of the resolution.
Borys, Poczobut, Biernacka and Tiszkowska are all members of the Union of Poles in Belarus. Anna Paniszewa is a Polish activist from Brest, and the headmaster of the local Polish school. All of them have been charged by the prosecutor under Art. 130-3 of the Criminal Code (deliberate actions aimed at inciting national and religious hatred according to national, religious, language, other social affiliation, as well as through justifying Nazism, which were committed by a group of persons). The prosecution claims their activity was relevant to"‘the rehabilitation of Nazism and justifying the genocide of the Belarusian people". Such offense carries a prison sentence up to 12 years.
The human rights watchdogs also stressed in the statement that "it should be noted that these actions of the authorities are taking place against the background of anti-Polish propaganda on state TV, in which Poland is described as an aggressor, which allegedly has, among other things, territorial claims to the Republic of Belarus".
"Mimicking the worst Stalinist traditions, the aggressive anti-Polish state propaganda causes serious concern, as it carries negative consequences for the citizens of the Republic of Belarus of Polish nationality and clearly does not promote the policy of good neighborhood and trust between the two historically close nations" - reads the statement.
"Of course, we must remember and speak about the difficult periods of our history, including for the purpose of interethnic reconciliation, rather than incitement to mutual hostility and suspicion, in order to prevent xenophobia and discrimination against various groups in society, including the inadmissibility of persecution of dissent" - the Belarusian activist groups added.
The Union of Poles in Belarus is the largest Polish minority organisation. In 2005, authorities in Minsk revoked its registration. The statutory goals of the union include cultivating Polishness, promoting Polish culture, teaching Polish language, preserving memorial sites.