#Belarus It’s been reported that Kryscina Tsimanouskaya, who publicly criticized the regime and sports officials, is being sent from Tokyo back to Belarus. Apparently, representatives of the Belarusian national team took her to the airport. It looks like kidnapping
Tsimanouskaya was accompanied to the airport by two members of the Belarusian sports delegation. She is now with the police and volunteers. When asked if she was afraid to fly to #Belarus, Tsimanouskaya answered "yes".
Tsimanouskaya was accompanied to the airport by two people: a psychologist and Vasil Yurchuk, a representative of the NOC. She was told she needs to be eliminated from the Olympics and return home. Witnesses say she didn’t fly to Turkey from Tokyo and is still at a police depart.
A conversation between #Tsimanouskaya, Yuri Maisevich, the head coach of the national team and another member of the delegation, was leaked. She was brought to tears by their threats.Also, the conversation proves that she was not forced to leave the Olympics because of any trauma
Representatives of the International Olympic Committee spoke with Kryscina Tsimanouskaya. She was taken to a safe location and now feels safe. She said she might apply for asylum. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czechia offered her assistance immediately
#Belarus Reportedly, Kryscina Tsimanouskaya applied for political asylum in Poland. It is great to hear that she is holding up well. She is already in contact with the International Olympic Committee and the press.
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167 women are political prisoners in #Belarus, many with young children awaiting their return. Here are ten stories of mothers, separated from their children due to political imprisonment - a painful, added burden in their fight for freedom.
@FreeViasna @FreeViasna
Antanina Kanavalava, a volunteer in the 2020 Belarus protests, was sentenced to five and a half years. Her two young children, ages four and six, were taken abroad by their grandmother after both parents were detained. In jail, Antanina now suffers from a visual disability.
Tatsiana Daniliuk and her husband were detained in September 2024. Despite having three small children at home, both were arrested and are now awaiting trial.
#Belarus Human rights defenders have documented years of repression. Among the 1,870 people they interviewed, 60 reported rape, sexualized violence, or threats of rape.
60 women and men.
One detainee recounted a female staff member saying, "Put these guys on your truncheons."
According to the report of the @UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, there are known cases of sexual violence:
"Our findings confirm the rape of detainees and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence against both men and women. Medical records reviewed by OHCHR indicate the presence of trauma to the male genitalia. Detainees were also subjected to psychological pressure, including threats of rape."
It is horrifying. Security forces did it to our people, peaceful citizens. No criminal case was launched to investigate it. Justice takes way too long.
#Belarus On that day three years ago, our cities and towns protested against rigged elections. The regime resorted to violence, torture and shooting. Peaceful protesters died on the street and in detention. What I learned about myself and my nation after the past three years ⬇️
While some commentators prefer to undermine our fight, this peaceful and massive revolution is the most critical event in the recent history of Belarus. All strata of society said no to the archaic regime. We showed unity, resilience & creativity. I finally understood my nation.
The explosion had not one but many reasons. None of it has been solved. Brutal repression cleaned the streets after several months. Yet the king is naked. Pensioners, factory workers, techies and even his own circle don't necessarily support Lukashenka so widely as he claimed.
#Belarus The current Consitution offers these two scenarios:
First, if Lukashenka suddenly dies, the chairperson of the Council of the Republic, Natalia Kachanava, will perform his duties until the new elections. The Council of the Republic is the upper house of the parliament.
Secondly, if Lukashenka is killed, a state of emergency or martial law will be declared, while state institutions and officials will follow the decisions of the Security Council. At the same time, the same Kachanava will preside over the meetings of the Security Council.
Both scenarios can create a crisis. The chairperson of the Council of the Republic has no real power to influence the government and the lower house of the parliament. She became the "second" person due to the recent changes in the Constitution. Lukashenka might trust her.
#Belarus On May 5, Lukashenka already had problems with his health. Listen to his voice when he addressed the room. There was no bandage on his hand, so we can assume that it appeared later, as it was seen on May 9 in Moscow. Perhaps his health got worse by then.
Later on May 5, prime minister Raman Halouchanka gave a speech at the ceremony dedicated to Victory Day at the Palace of the Republic. On May 9, Lukashenka travelled to Moscow but felt too weak to walk with other rulers and had to leave immediately after the parade.
If he had a cold or a virus, how would the usually very cautious Putin shake hands with Lukashenka, who felt unwell? Showing that he has so many allies was more critical for Putin than potentially getting an infection from Lukashenka? What about other leaders in Moscow?
I'm grateful to @ZelenskyyUa for mentioning the support for #Ukraine among Belarusians & that they keep fighting against the regime. I want to address one thing: the Ukrainian President said there were no victims. Not true. Security forces shot peaceful protesters on the streets.
Aliaksandr Taraikouski was shot dead on August 10, 2020. I was not far away from Pushkin Square. All of us heard the shooting. What a cynical & deliberate murder of a man who wanted to show the police that he was unarmed & went out to protest against the rigged election.
On August 11, 2020, Hienadz Shutau was shot in Brest. He ended up in a coma and died later.
On August 9, Aliaksandr Vikhor was detained in Homiel. He was beaten at a police station and died soon afterwards. The investigator said he got overdosed even though his blood was clean.