Blogger Dzmitry Kazlou (Grey Cat) Recognized As Political Prisoner

The decision has been taken by the human rights community of Belarus.

Blogger Dzmitry Kazlou (Grey Cat), prosecuted under Part 1 Article 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or active participation in group actions, flagrantly violating public order), has been recognized as political prisoners by the human rights community of Belarus, spring96.org reports.

When making this decision, the human rights activists were guided by the previously adopted statements of the Belarusian human rights community of June 1, 9 and 11, 2020 on recognizing the defendants in "Tsikhanouski's case" as political prisoners.

Based on this, the Belarusian human rights activists demand from the Belarusian authorities to release Kazlou immediately and stop the criminal proceedings against him.

Dzmitry Kazlou was arrested on June 10 along with European Belarus activists Artsiom Charniak and Mikhail Bandarenka. The next day he was sentenced to 20 days of arrest and, accordingly, was to be released on June 30. Kazlou is in a temporary detention center in Akrestsin Street in Minsk.

Thus, 17 people have already been detained in criminal cases under Article 342 of the Criminal Code. These are bloggers Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Uladzimir Niaronski, Siarhei Piatrukhin, Aliaksandr Kabanau, Uladzimir Tsyhanovich, Dzmitry Kazlou, Ihar Losik, detained after the incident in Hrodna, Dzmitry Furmanau, Viarhili Ushak, Artsiom Sakau, Aliaksandr Aranovich, Uladzimir Naumik, Vasil Babrouski, Yauhen Raznichenka, Uladzimir Kniha, Andrei Novikau, politician Mikalai Statkevich. 13 of them have been recognized as political prisoners.