A Swiss-Belarusian girl has been freed after spending 17 months in jail for participating in opposition demonstrations.
Twin nationwide Natallia Hersche was arrested in Belarus in September 2020 for protesting in opposition to the disputed re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko.
She had been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail however was launched from the Mogilev jail in japanese Belarus.
The Swiss Federal Division of Overseas Affairs stated on Friday that Hersche was now on the Swiss embassy and would instantly return to the Alpine nation.
“It's a nice pleasure for my group and me that Natallia Hersche is lastly free in spite of everything this work, and she will be able to return to Switzerland,” stated Swiss President Ignazio Cassis.
“We want her good luck and good well being within the instances forward,” he added in a assertion.
Human rights advocates had labelled Hersche a "political prisoner" and her arrest had induced additional tensions between Bern and Minsk.
Amnesty Worldwide stated Hersche was sentenced in December 2020 for resisting arrest and eradicating a balaclava from a riot police officer.
Throughout her detention, the 52-year-old had gone on starvation strike and was transferred to the high-security jail in Mogilev, recognized for its harsh circumstances.
Swiss diplomatic employees stated they'd met along with her 14 instances since she was taken into custody and stated her launch was a "results of intensive efforts".
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarus' exiled opposition chief additionally welcomed Hersche's liberating on Twitter.
“So relieved that Swiss-Belarusian citizen Natallia Hersche will return to her family members," Tsikhanouskaya wrote, "she was launched after innocently spending 17 months imprisoned in Belarus.”
“However, 1061 political prisoners are held as hostages,” she added. “We will’t let the dictator use them to discount.”
The Swiss authorities stated it stays dedicated to safeguarding human rights in Belarus, together with securing the discharge of different prisoners, making certain freedom of expression and investigating rights violations.
Post a Comment