"Last year, when we sent New Year's cards, we had to sign almost a thousand cards to people unjustly convicted for simply exercising their rights.

We hoped that in 2022, we will no longer have to do this, - says the message of the Embassy of Great Britain in Minsk.

- But this year there were even more postcards - more than 1,400. And this is a terrible tragedy.

This is more than 1400 unfairly broken destinies.

This has to stop.

Everyone is unjustly deprived of their freedom, everyone who is persecuted for exercising their rights should be immediately and unconditionally released, and their rights should be fully restored."

Letters to political prisoners from the German embassy in Minsk

The staff of the German embassy also sent holiday cards to political prisoners:

"We sympathize with them and their relatives and friends.

May the congratulations sent by the Embassy give the addressees of the letters and their families a little new strength and hope.

The federal government of Germany demands the release of Belarusian police prisoners."

Letters to political prisoners from the German embassy in Minsk

A total of 1,452 people have been recognized as political prisoners by "Viasny" human rights activists.

Other human rights initiatives yield a larger number of police prisoners.

The exact number of people behind bars for political reasons is unknown.