Women in Belarus actively participated in post-election protests. Since last August women have been coming out to marches and have taken part in many rallies. The security forces later began to seize female picketers as well, and judges handed down politically motivated sentences. As many as 49 women are now behind bars, writes the human rights center Viasna.
According to human rights defenders, there are at least 141 politically motivated criminal cases against women in Belarus. As many as 49 women are now behind bars or under house arrest. Ten of them have been sentenced to imprisonment, while the rest are waiting for trials.
At least 17 more women have been sentenced to freedom restriction or fines. At least 75 women are being held as suspects in criminal cases, some of them have gone abroad.
Thirty-eight women have been recognized as political prisoners.
