Belarusian activist Yauhenia Douhaya said on July 24 that the mother and an aunt of imprisoned anarchist Alyaksandr Frantskevich -- Tatsyana Frantskevich and Natallya Labatsevich -- were arrested on a charge of taking part in an extremist group's activities. According to Douhaya, the sisters were arrested on July 19 when they came to visit Alyaksandr Frantskevich in prison. He was sentenced to 16 years and 9 months in prison in September 2022 over his participation in mass rallies protesting the official results of an August 2020 presidential election that declared authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka the winner. The opposition and many Western governments have refused to accept the results, saying the balloting was rigged. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
Mother, Aunt Of Jailed Belarusian Protester Detained On Extremism Charges
Alyaksandr Frantskevich and his mother, Tatsyana, in September 2013