Photos of Jailed Belarusian Politician Surface

Viktor Babaryko, a former presidential candidate in Belarus and political prisoner, was seen for the first time in nearly two years after being allowed to send a message to his family, coinciding with an upcoming presidential election on January 26, where no genuine opposition candidates will be participating. Released photographs and a video by pro-regime blogger Raman Pratasevich depict Babaryko in a prison uniform, appearing in good spirits despite his 14-year sentence on politically motivated charges. Babaryko's situation reflects a broader context of repression under President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994 and denies the existence of political prisoners. The release of these images follows a series of pardons for some political prisoners, though many remain incarcerated amidst ongoing human rights abuses. Observers suggest these developments may be strategically timed to portray a more lenient image of the regime ahead of the election. Human rights group Viasna continues to report that over 1,200 political prisoners are still detained in Belarus.