Charges against arrested strategist Vitaly Shklyarov politically motivated, HRDs say

The human rights community of Belarus considers Vitaly Shklyarov, political scientist arrested in Siarhei Tsikhanouski’s case, to be political prisoner, following reports of the authorities formally charging the Belarusian-born US expert under Part 1, Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).

The charges are reportedly linked to the May 29 election picket in Hrodna.

The human rights activists call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately release Vital Shklyarov and to drop the criminal charges he is facing.

Political technologist Vitaly Shklyarov is a native of Homieĺ and lives in the United States. He came to his home city to visit his parents and was arrested on July 29. Shklyarov was then placed in pre-trial prison No. 1 in Minsk.

The authorities allege Shklyarov’s involvement in Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s campaign, which the candidate herself denies.