Eduard Babaryka, the imprisoned son of jailed Belarusian presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka, has gone on trial for "malicious disobedience" of prison guard commands.
The 35-year-old, whose trial began in the eastern city of Babruysk on July 9, was handed an eight-year prison term in early July 2023 on charges of "organizing mass riots" and "inciting hatred."
Eduard Babaryka has rejected the charges as politically motivated and human rights organizations in Belarus have recognized him as a political prisoner.
Eduard Babaryka was a member of his father's election campaign staff when the two were arrested two months before the August 2020 presidential vote. Viktar Babaryka was unable to officially register as a presidential candidate.
If found guilty in the new case, Eduard Babaryka may face an additional two years in prison.
Viktar Babaryka, the former head of the Russian-owned Belgazprombank, was sentenced in July 2021 to 14 years in prison on charges of bribe-taking and money laundering that he and his supporters have called political retribution for challenging authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
The Crisis In Belarus
Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
Lukashenka was declared the victor of the August 2020 election, triggering massive protests by Belarusians who say the balloting was rigged. The demonstrations lasted for months as Belarusians demanded Lukashenka, in power since 1994, step down and hold fresh elections.
The August 2020 vote was rejected as fraudulent by the opposition and the West, and the country, at Lukashenka's direction, began to crack down on demonstrators, arresting thousands and pushing most leading opposition figures out of the country.
Several protesters have been killed in the violence and rights organizations say there is credible evidence of torture being used against some of those detained.
Lukashenka denies vote fraud and has refused to negotiate with the opposition led by Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who supporters say actually won the August 2020 election.
The European Union, United States, Canada, and other countries have refused to recognize Lukashenka, 69, as the legitimate leader of Belarus and have slapped him and senior Belarusian officials with sanctions in response to the "falsification" of the vote and postelection crackdown.