MINSK -- A court in Belarus has sentenced self-exiled opposition activist Vadzim Prakopyeu to 25 years in prison on multiple charges, including allegedly coordinating an attempted arson attack at the house of a pro-government lawmaker, the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus, Aleh Haydukevich, in June 2021.
The Minsk City Court on June 21 also sentenced in absentia two former law enforcement officers, Ihar Chamyakin and Dzyanis Khamitsevich, who also have fled the country, to 20 years and 16 years in prison, respectively.
Fifteen other defendants in the case, who were present at the trial, were sentenced to prison terms of between two years and 21 years in prison.
The charges included actions to seize power, a terrorist act against a public figure, terrorism, assaulting a law enforcement officer, organizing public events that blatantly disrupt social order, illegal usage of flammable substances, creating an extremist group, illegal weapons and explosives possession, illegal weapons smuggling, abuse of office, failure to report a crime, inaction, joining a military group abroad, and tax evasion.
Many journalists, rights activists, and representatives of democratic institutions have been jailed in Belarus since an August 2020 presidential election where Lukashenka was officially announced as the winner.
Rights activists and opposition politicians say the poll was rigged. Thousands have been detained during countrywide protests over the results, and there have been credible reports of torture and ill-treatment by security forces. Several people have 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.