HOMEL, Belarus -- A Belarusian court in the southeastern city of Homel has sentenced three members of the popular rock group Tor Band, whose music voiced support for protesters angry over the results of a 2020 presiential election, to prison terms amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent.
The court handed down its ruling on October 31, sentencing Dzmitry Halavach to nine years in prison, Yauhen Burlo to eight years in prison, and Andrey Yaremchyk to 7 1/2 years in prison.
The Crisis In Belarus
Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
The men were found guilty of insulting the authoritarian ruler of the country, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, discrediting the country, establishing an extremist group, and inciting social hatred.
The musicians were arrested in October 2022 and went on trial on October 14. The trial was held behind closed doors.
In January, the Belarusian KGB labeled the Tor Band as "extremist" and banned it.
The group became popular for its songs supporting the thousands of people who protested the official results of a presidential election in August 2020, which declared Lukashenka the winner despite widespread belief the vote was rigged.
Separately on October 31, a court in Minsk handed a parole-like three-year sentence to Nadzeya Staravoytava on a charge of taking part in activities that "blatantly disrupt social order."
The charge against Staravoytava stemmed from her taking part in the mass rallies in 2020 protesting the election results.
Thousands have been detained during countrywide protests over the election results and there have been credible reports of torture and ill-treatment by security forces. Several people died during the crackdown.
Lukashenka has refused to negotiate with the opposition and many of its leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country.
The United States, the European Union, and several other countries have refused to acknowledge Lukashenka as the winner of the vote and imposed several rounds of sanctions on him and his regime, citing election fraud and the crackdown.
