Amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent, Belarusian blogger Mikalay Klimovich, who recently suffered a stroke and had heart surgery, was sentenced to one year in prison on February 28 for posting an online caricature of authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka. The day before, activist Alyaksandr Yemyalyanau was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of insulting Lukashenka and inciting social hatred. The crackdown was spurred by a disputed presidential election in August 2020 that handed a sixth term in office to Lukashenka. Opposition and Western governments have said the poll was rigged. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
