Ales Pushkin, a 57-year-old Belarusian artist known for his critical portrayals of President Alexander Lukashenko, has passed away while serving a five-year prison sentence. Human rights organizations and Pushkin's wife confirmed his death on Tuesday, stating that the cause remains unknown and that he had not been known to be ill prior to his passing. Pushkin was incarcerated in Grodno, a city in western Belarus.

Janina Demuch, Pushkin's wife, revealed to the Associated Press that her husband died in the prison's intensive care unit, highlighting the lack of clarity surrounding the circumstances of his death. Belarusian authorities have not yet issued a statement on the matter.

Pushkin was a prominent figure in the Belarusian political landscape, expressing his dissent through performance art and cartoons, often targeting Lukashenko. One of his most notable works is a fresco depicting Lukashenko in hell, surrounded by riot police, painted in a church in Bobr. In 1999, he served a two-year sentence for an act of protest involving a dung cart outside the presidential office in Minsk, titled "Dung for the President."

Pushkin's activism extended to participating in opposition protests. His 2021 arrest and subsequent five-year prison sentence stemmed from charges of inciting hatred and "desecration of state symbols." The charges were reportedly linked to a painting of a Belarusian nationalist who collaborated with the Nazis during World War II. During his sentencing, Pushkin's act of protest, in which he undressed, led to 13 days in solitary confinement.

Belarus has witnessed significant political turmoil, particularly following the disputed 2020 presidential election, which saw widespread protests met with a harsh government crackdown. Thousands of individuals were detained, and numerous NGOs and media outlets were shut down. Human rights organizations estimate that nearly 1,500 political prisoners are currently held in Belarusian prisons, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader, expressed her grief over Pushkin's death and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances. She characterized Pushkin as another victim of the Lukashenko regime and emphasized the plight of thousands of political prisoners in Belarus, detained for expressing their beliefs, supporting Ukraine, or participating in pro-democracy demonstrations.