While we welcome the recent release of some political prisoners in Belarus, we remain gravely concerned. As the Group of Experts has highlighted, the regime continues to violate human rights on a systematic scale through arbitrary arrests, widespread repression, and the silencing of dissent.

Dissidents, civil society activists, journalists, human rights defenders and lawyers are still being prosecuted under the false pretext of combating extremism and terrorism.

Despite these recent releases, around 1,100 political prisoners remain behind bars. As we have heard already today, many are held in isolation. Many suffer mistreatment. And many are denied even basic medical care.

In response, the United Kingdom has sanctioned over 200 individuals and 12 entities for their role in these abuses

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