Belarusian Rights Defender Sentenced To 7 Years For Working On Report That Was Critical Of Police

Human rights defender Nasta Loyka has been sentenced to seven years in prison by a court in Minsk for helping in the writing of a report on the persecution of the anarchist community in Belarus in 2018. Judge Alenna Shylko handed down the punishment on June 20 after a trial held behind closed doors. Loyka, who has been arrested several times for her human rights activities, said she will appeal the sentence. The report was highly critical of police over their treatment of anarchists and anti-fascists as well as of left-wing and social activists. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.