A Belarusian court on December 13 handed prison terms to four activists amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent and civil society. Aleh Haurylau received 10 years, Syarhey Pasyuk was given 5 1/2 years, and spouses Aleh and Tatsyana Birul got six years each. The activists were found guilty of libel, vandalism, inciting hatred, calling for sanctions against Belarus, and extremism. They all participated in mass protests against the official results of an August 2020 presidential election that handed a sixth term in office to the country's authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Opposition groups say the vote was rigged. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
Four Belarusian Activists Handed Prison Terms In Minsk
The Minsk Regional Court found the activists guilty of vandalism, inciting hatred, calling for sanctions against Belarus, and extremism.