In a recent legal proceeding in Belarus, an opponent of President Alexander Lukashenko has been handed an additional year in prison for not complying with prison authorities. Palina Sharenda-Panasyuk, who was arrested in 2021 amid a harsh crackdown on dissent following the contentious 2020 elections, is at the center of this case.

Initially found guilty of offending the president and assaulting a police official, Sharenda-Panasyuk’s situation worsened when her prison sentence was previously lengthened by two years due to her alleged disobedience to prison guards. Following Tuesday’s ruling, the timeline for her potential release remains uncertain.

Sharenda-Panasyuk has been reported to suffer from serious health issues including pancreatitis and chronic back pain. She has highlighted the severe conditions she faces in prison, where inmates are made to sleep on hard metal surfaces without proper mattresses or bedding.

Her husband, Andrei Sharenda, expressed grave concerns over her well-being, stating that the additional sentence feels akin to a death sentence, given her fragile physical condition and the harsh realities of prison life.

Observers from various European Union member states attended her trial in the town of Rechitsa, where the German Embassy issued a statement addressing the situation, describing the ongoing ordeal of a mother with two young children who must again face courtroom proceedings. This reflects the unforgiving nature of the Belarusian government towards those who oppose it.

Since he ascended to power in 1994, Lukashenko has maintained a stringent clampdown on political dissent and independent media. According to the human rights organization Viasna, there are currently around 1,300 political prisoners in Belarus, which includes the esteemed Ales Bialiatski, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.