​Thirteen prominent cultural figures are calling attention to some of the political prisoners who have disappeared in Belarus in an open letter provided to dpa on Monday, in which they accuse Belarusian authoritarian leader Oleksandr Lukashenko of kidnapping and torturing the prisoners.

Among the signatories are well-known names of international literature, such as Salman Rushdie, Hertha Müller, Margaret Atwood and Elfriede Jelinek, musicians such as Igor Levit and Wolf Bierman, as well as seven other artists.

Belarus’ most recent presidential election in August 2020 was marred by mass protests that were seen as rigged in favor of the 66-year-old president, who was elected to a sixth term with more than 80% of the vote, a result that was generally not recognized internationally.

Opposition leader Svitlana Tikhanovskaya, who was considered the real winner and who later fled into exile, took part in the elections instead of her husband Serhiy Tikhanovsky, who was in prison. Where he is and whether he is alive is currently unknown, say the signatories of the letter.

Culture activists and oppositionist Maria Kolesnikova are remembered, who in 2022 had to urgently undergo surgery for a perforated ulcer during her imprisonment. Although she was due to return to prison earlier this year, she could not be contacted since February.

Lawyer Maksym Znak, political blogger Ihor Losik, ex-presidential candidate Viktor Babariko and dozens of other political prisoners are among the “missing persons” of the Lukashenka regime highlighted in the letter.

Human rights activists accuse Lukashenka’s government of crimes against humanity. During the protests, several deaths were recorded, hundreds of people were injured and more than 10,000 were arrested. There is also a lot of information coming from Belarus about the ill-treatment of detainees and their disappearance. (Source: Agerpres)