Pavel Sapelka: “Among 1,300 political prisoners, all candidates for this position from the previous elections are held incommunicado”

Political prisoners continue to be held in Belarus

Pavel Sapelka, member of the Political Council of the Belarusian National Congress, declared from exile that the Belarusian regime continues to hold 1,300 political prisoners, including all the candidates who ran against Alexander Lukashenko in the last presidential elections.

These include Viktor Babariko, Valery Tsepkalo and Sergei Tikhanovsky.

Pavel Sapelka stressed that "all candidates are held incommunicado".

The Belarusian opposition leader also warned that the regime may try to organize a new electoral process, but stressed that it will not be recognized by the opposition or by the international community.

Lukashenko is increasingly isolated internationally

Sapelka's statements come at a time when Lukashenko is increasingly isolated internationally.

The Belarusian regime has been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.

In addition, several countries have recalled their ambassadors from Belarus.

The Belarusian opposition leader called on the international community to continue to pressure Lukashenko to release political prisoners and to respect the results of the last presidential elections.

He also stressed that the opposition will continue to fight for a democratic Belarus.