Nikolai Klimovich, who received a one-year prison sentence over the cartoon depicting the Belarusian leader Lukashenka that circulated on Odnoklassniki, died in a detention facility in Vitebsk, Belarus, according to the human rights center. The report appeared on the Telegram channel referenced by the advocacy group.
The human rights center explained that the verdict was issued by Andrey Bychilo, the judge for the Pinsk region and the city of Pinsk, following the prosecutor Ilya Guzarevich’s recommendation. It was noted that Klimovich had health complications, specifically heart issues, which contributed to the concerns raised by the group. Prior to the ruling, Klimovich was kept in custody rather than released on bail, despite being free in the courtroom at the moment the decision was announced.
Viasna stated that Klimovich was recently moved to a colony where he passed away shortly thereafter, while promising to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.
The center extended its condolences to Klimovich’s family and relatives, acknowledging the distress caused by this event. In a broader context, the report draws attention to ongoing legal actions and prison conditions in the country, raising questions about due process and the treatment of political expressions in the judicial system.
In related developments, Belarusian authorities recently announced a sentence for Nobel laureate Ales Byalyatsky, who was convicted of smuggling and given a ten-year term to be served in a high-security penal colony after completing prior sentences. The case underscores ongoing concerns about political prosecutions and the use of severe penalties in the country’s penal system, according to observers and human rights groups cited by rights organizations.
While the specifics of Klimovich’s case remain under investigation, human rights organizations emphasize the need for transparent inquiries, accountability for prison conditions, and respect for fundamental rights within the judicial process. The focus remains on ensuring that allegations of mistreatment are thoroughly examined and that the families affected receive timely information and support. The broader issue of political repression and the impact on civic dialogue continues to attract international attention and scrutiny from human rights advocates and observers in the region.