Amnesty International has learned that the Belarusian human rights lawyer, Vera Stremkovskaya, has come under increasing pressure to cease her human rights activities. In the past year three different criminal cases have been brought against her, all formulated on the basis that she had defamed public officials. Although only one charge remains, there is concern that if convicted and imprisoned she could face up to five years in prison. Amnesty International would consider her a prisoner of conscience if imprisoned and is calling for the charges against her to be dropped.
