Two Belarusian activists went on trial in Minsk on May 7 in separate cases amid a continuing crackdown on dissent. Natallya Kruk, who was arrested in early 2023 after she returned from Poland, is accused of calling for actions aimed at damaging state security and organizing activities that violate public order. Ruslan Badamshyn was charged with organizing activities that violate public order. The charges against the two activists are related to the unprecedented nationwide protests in 2020 against the official results of a presidential election that declared authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka the winner, while activists and opposition politicians say the poll was rigged. To read the original stories by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here and here.
2 More Belarusian Activists Go On Trial
Natallya Kruk refused to talk to pro-government journalist Ryhor Azaronak in 2023.