Twelve people were sentenced in Minsk to prison terms of between two and 25 years on October 4 for "acts of terrorism" and "treason against the state" in connection with an attack in February 2023 that damaged a Russian plane. The defendants, most of whom were sentenced in absentia, although it's unclear how many, were accused of using a drone to damage a Russian A-50, an aircraft used for military reconnaissance. The main defendant, Nikolai Shvets, was released to Ukraine in a prisoner exchange in June but was still handed the longest sentence in absentia of 25 years. The leader of the Belarusian anti-government group ByPol said last year that the attack at the Machulishchy Air Base was a joint operation by ByPol and Ukraine's Security Service. Russia has used the air base in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
Activists Sentenced For Drone Attack On Russian Military Plane In Belarus
The defendants were accused of using a drone to damage a Russian A-50, an aircraft used for military reconnaissance. (file photo)