A new trial has begun for imprisoned Belarusian video blogger and opposition activist Syarhey Tsikhanouski on charges of "blatantly violating a penitentiary’s inner regulations."
Judge Ivan Hrynkevich opened the trial inside the penitentiary in the city of Zhodzin near Minsk on February 14. If convicted, Tsikhanouski's current 18-year prison term could be extended by several years.
Tsikhanouski was sentenced in December 2021 along with five other men -- RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik, former presidential candidate Mikalay Statkevich, and opposition activists Uladzimer Tsyhanovich, Artsyom Sakau, and Dzmitry Papou -- all of whom were also handed lengthy prison terms.
The charges against the men included fomenting mass disorder, inciting social hatred, impeding the activities of the Central Election Commission, and organizing activities that disrupt social order, which the defendants and their supporters rejected as politically motivated.
In August, Tsikhanouski, who had been held in solitary confinement-type conditions in a prison colony since before he was sentenced, was transferred to a regular prison for three years for unspecified violations.
Tsikhanouski is the husband of Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
A popular video blogger, Tsikhanouski announced his presidential candidacy in 2020, challenging Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who was running for reelection. Tsikhanouski was disqualified and arrested before the vote.
Following Tsikhanouski's arrest, his wife announced her own presidential candidacy, mobilizing the opposition. Lukashenka's landslide victory has not been recognized by the opposition and Western countries, who say he had the results rigged in his favor and that the real winner was Tsikhanouskaya.
A wave of protests followed Lukashenka's victory claim, and tens of thousands of people were detained and several killed.
Independent media, human rights organizations, and opposition groups have been targeted as well.
Tsikhanouskaya has been living in Lithuania since leaving Belarus due to concerns about her safety and that of the couple's two children.