Former presidential candidate Babaryka shown in jail in Belarus

For the first time in years, footage of imprisoned former presidential candidate Viktor Babaryka was published in Belarus. The opposition publication Nasha Niva reported this news.

Videos and photos with Babaryka in the Novopolotsk colony were also published on the channel of imprisoned blogger Roman Protasevich. Babaryka had no contact with him for about two years. 

In a short video, Babaryka sends warm wishes to his family.

“I want me to grow up to be a great student, like you. And I am sure that above all, she has a unique power in these dimensions, this truth. And I hope that all the holidays that are coming up, in that case, and the day of the meeting, you will be a friendly community and will have the best of honors and greetings from me. I love you all very much. All the best,” Babaryka said in a short video, turning to his granddaughters and granddaughters.

Viktor Babaryka is the former head of Belgazprombank. He was arrested in June 2020 when the banker tried to register as a candidate for the presidential election in Belarus. Lukashenko’s regime prevented him from running.

Viktor Babaryka received a 14-year sentence in a top security prison in July 2021.

In April 2023, Viktor Babaryka was taken from the colony to the hospital, and his associates reported that he had been beaten.

One of the former political prisoners claims that Babaryka spent the spring and summer of 2023 in complete isolation from the others.

In 2024, Belarusian dictator Lukashenko began to gradually release dozens of political prisoners, who were required to “repent of their crimes” in order to be pardoned.