Political persecution

News

Minsk court convicts musician Siarhei Mikhalok in absentia, sentences him to four years for ‘insulting’ president

Minsk City Court has handed down an in absentia four-year sentence to Belarusian musician Siarhei Mikhalok, finding that...

Christopher Manley | Aug 4, 2026

News

Belarusians in Poland face growing denials of international protection as authorities cite ‘improved’ conditions at home

Polish migration authorities have been increasingly rejecting applications for refugee status and subsidiary protection...

Vanessa Bergmann | Jul 16, 2026

News

Kazakh activist sentenced over posts on orphanage but spared punishment under amnesty; barred from political activity for five years

A Medeu district court in Almaty on July 14 found civic activist Айжан Мамешова guilty of “deliberately s...

Blake Marriott | Jul 15, 2026