Russian Political Prisoner Dmitriy Schletgauer Dies in Belarus

Dmitriy Schletgauer, a 22-year-old Russian political prisoner, has died in a Belarusian penal colony while serving a 12-year sentence for espionage and facilitating extremist activities. His death marks the seventh case of a political dissident dying in custody since the crackdown on opposition began in 2020, with around 1,300 political prisoners currently held in Belarus, many suffering from inadequate medical care. The Belarusian authorities have not disclosed the cause of Schletgauer's death, which occurred on October 11 but was only reported recently. Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called for an independent investigation, emphasizing the need for international scrutiny of Belarusian prisons. Viasna, the human rights group reporting on this case, highlighted the inhumane conditions faced by political prisoners in Belarus. Schletgauer, who gained residency in Belarus in 2018, had become a father while incarcerated.