Ahead of Belarus’s January election, authorities have detained more than 100 people, according to the Viasna human rights center on November 6.
President Alexander Lukashenko, who has held power since 1994, is pursuing a seventh term.
Viasna reported that many of those detained have connections to online neighborhood chat groups, which authorities recently labeled “extremist,” claiming they are involved in conspiracies.
According to the Kyiv Independent, these groups, previously used to organize 2020 protests against alleged election fraud, are now viewed as a threat by the government.
With jails overcrowded, detainees, including political prisoners, are facing harsh conditions.
Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned the crackdown, urging the West to take action and encouraging Belarusians to vote against all candidates.
Belarus has not held a free or fair election since 1994.
Lukashenko’s previous election victory claim, with 80% of the vote, sparked widespread protests and a crackdown on dissent.
Since then, his regime has closed over 1,700 civic organizations, banned all but four pro-regime political parties, shut down independent media, and imprisoned over 1,300 political dissidents.
