May 21 marks Day of Political Prisoners in Belarus. “The main thing is to save your health” – this year’s theme is the right to health and medical care in detention.

According to Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Belarus, as a state that has ratified it, recognizes the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. The universal right for medical care should not be compromised by imprisonment. Yet, for nearly 4 years, Belarusians detained for political reasons have endured inhumane and unsanitary conditions in isolation cells, deprived of basic hygiene products and medicines.

Our colleagues from Human Rights Center Viasna, human right defenders, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, Uladzimir Labkovich, Marfa Rabkova, and Andrei Chapiuk, have been imprisoned for over 3 years due to their courageous efforts in defending human rights.

❗️European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) strongly stands in solidarity with our Belarusian colleagues and urges both the Belarusian and international communities to ensure proper medical care in detention facilities. We call for the immediate release of our colleagues and all political prisoners.

What can you do on the Day of Political Prisoners? 👉 Read more here

Stand with us in solidarity with all political prisoners unjustly detained in Belarus!