Belarus seeks lengthy prison terms for opposition leaders

Belarusian authorities connected Monday demanded lengthy situation position for nan country's exiled guidance leaders, amid a continued crackdown connected dissent successful nan ex-Soviet republic.

Prosecutors demanded 19-year situation sentences for Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Pavel Latushka, arsenic good arsenic fines of $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.

Tsikhanouskaya, Latushka and 3 different opposition figures are being tried successful absentia successful nan Belarusian capital, Minsk, connected charges of colluding to overthrow nan government, creating and starring an extremist group, inciting hatred and harming nationalist security.

The prosecution besides sought 12-year sentences for Maryya Maroz, Volha Kavalkova and Siarhei Dylevski.

"It has thing to do pinch justice, it is conscionable individual revenge against maine (and) others who are opposing nan regime. It will only make america conflict moreover harder," Tsikhanouskaya said successful a tweet connected Monday.

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All 5 near Belarus pursuing nan unprecedented wide protests successful 2020, aft authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko secured his sixth word successful agency successful a disputed election. The guidance and nan West person denounced nan ballot arsenic rigged.

The demonstrations that followed were nan largest and nan astir sustained since Lukashenko assumed agency successful 1994. He has tally nan state pinch an robust fist ever since. His authorities unleashed a brutal crackdown against nan protesters, detaining much than 35,000 and beating thousands.

Belarus is seeking lengthy situation position for nan country's exiled opposition leaders.

The country's astir prominent quality authorities advocate and nan 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Ales Bialiatski, was among those arrested. He is facing 12 years successful situation if convicted.

Tsikhanouskaya near Belarus nether unit from nan authorities soon aft nan election, successful which she ran against Lukashenko alternatively of her husband, well-known guidance leader Siarhei Tsikhanouski. Tsihkanouski was arrested successful 2020 and has been sentenced to 18 years successful prison.

On Monday, a tribunal successful Belarus added 18 much months to Tsikhanouski's condemnation complete alleged violations of situation regulations.

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Tsikhanouski maintained his innocence during nan proceedings that was held down closed doors, according to nan Viasna human authorities center, Belarus' astir salient quality authorities group. For 2 months, nan leader was held "in inhumane conditions" successful an isolation cell, nan group said.

"I'm really looking guardant to a clip erstwhile we free Siarhei and each governmental prisoners from this hell," Tsikhanouskaya said successful an online connection Monday.

The Viasna group has designated 1,443 group down bars successful Belarus arsenic governmental prisoners.