Igar Lendnik, a member of the Belarusian opposition, died in prison, where he was serving a sentence for “slandering” President Alexander Lukashenko, announced his former party and the non-governmental organization Viasna.

“Igar Lendnik, a former member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Gramada, activist, and journalist, died in prison at the age of 64,” the organization announced on Telegram.

The information was confirmed by Viasna, the non-governmental organization for the defense of human rights.

Igar Lendnik was arrested in December 2022. He was sentenced to three years in prison for “slandering” the President of Belarus, in the country of many hundreds of political prisoners, due to an article in the newspaper of the Social Democratic Party.

His health deteriorated severely in prison, according to the party, which is managed by members from abroad.

He underwent surgery for a gastrointestinal problem and also suffered from a heart problem.

The organization does not clarify the cause of death or the date.

Violent and widespread state repression has been implemented in Belarus since the rigged presidential elections of 2020, won by Lukashenko, in power since 1994 and a loyal friend of Vladimir Putin.

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The election result triggered a protest movement of unprecedented proportions in Belarus, followed by brutal repression.

Since then, hundreds of opposition activists, journalists, human rights defenders, or ordinary citizens have been sentenced to heavy prison terms or forced into exile.

According to Viasna, there are currently more than 1,400 political prisoners in Belarus.

Igar Lendnik is the fifth political prisoner to die in prison since 2021.