Belarusian activist and journalist Andrej Gnjot, currently under house arrest in Serbia, expresses feeling “life-threatened and helpless” after seven months in a Belgrade prison. Despite Interpol lifting its red notice for Gnjot, Serbia may still extradite him to Belarus on tax evasion charges.
Gnjot, who founded the Free Association of Belarusian Athletes to fight dictatorship in sports and society, believes his persecution is politically motivated. „The process against me in Belarus is fabricated,“ he asserts, pointing to Interpol’s dismissal of the charges.
Gnjot fears for his safety, saying, „I feel like a hostage; they can do anything to me.“ He highlights his organization’s role in having Belarus stripped of hosting rights for an international hockey tournament, causing financial losses for the Belarusian regime.
The activist’s case has drawn attention from international human rights organizations, who recognize him as a political prisoner. He is sceptical about obtaining asylum in Serbia, citing the Higher Court’s repeated decisions for his extradition detention despite significant evidence presented in his defence.
Gnjot worries about being abruptly extradited to Belarus, where political prisoners face brutal conditions. „I fear someone will knock on my door any moment to take me away,“ he says, drawing parallels to death row inmates’ dread.
Despite the hardships, Gnjot remains hopeful for support from the Serbian people and continues to seek financial aid for his defence. He expresses gratitude towards those helping him and hopes his plight will be heard.
Gnjot is awaiting a hearing from the Appeals Court after filing a complaint in June. He remains under house arrest, allowed only one hour outside daily, which he says is insufficient for necessary medical examinations following partial paralysis of his left leg.
„I strive to use my time fighting for my life, not in sorrow. If extradited to Belarus, I will cease to exist,“ concludes Gnjot, calling for urgent attention to his case.
Source: N1