Belarus detains dozens of former political prisoners and relatives of those currently imprisoned

On January 23, Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) officers conducted searches and detentions of former political prisoners and relatives of political prisoners throughout the country, reports the human rights organization Viasna.

According to the human rights activists, at least 73 people were either searched or detained. In a few cases, entire families were detained. Independent outlet Mediazona Belarus wrote that among the detained are Maryna Adamovich, the wife of the political prisoner and former presidential candidate Mikola Statkevich, and the 76-year-old activist Barys Khamaida.

One of news outlet Zerkalo’s sources said that among those searched today, there were members of private chats where relatives of political prisoners discuss everyday issues. The source said that they were especially interested in those who wrote in the chat about the solidarity fund “BySol,” which raises money for Belarusians who have been injured or have lost their jobs during the opposition protests in 2020.

The search orders included criminal articles on “financing extremist activities” and “participation in extremist groups.” According to Viasna and Zerkalo, KGB officers told a few of those detained that the searches were directly connected to the initiative INeedHelpBy, a project which helps provide food to Belarusians who were victims of political repression and found themselves in a difficult financial situation. On January 16, the KGB declared INeedHelpBy an “extremist group.”