The century-old, pro-democracy Belarusian exile group Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic (Rada BNR) has awarded its inaugural Order of Pahonya to the relatives of imprisoned "political prisoners" Ihar Losik, his wife, Darya Losik, and Eduard Palchys. An April 22 post on the group's Facebook page showed images from a presentation ceremony in Vilnius, which also hosts exiled opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya. RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik is serving a 15-year sentence on charges including organizing unrest that he and others say are politically motivated. The United States has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Ihar and Darya Losik, who have a 4-year-old son. Thirty-two-year-old Palchys is a blogger detained on similar charges. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
Diaspora Group Honors Belarusian 'Political Prisoners' Ihar And Darya Losik, Eduard Palchys
A BNR representative awards the medals to the relatives of the Losiks and Palchys.