Activist Dzyanis Zhalezka has gone on trial for participating in protests against the official results of a 2020 presidential election that declared authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka the winner as a crackdown on dissent continues almost two years after the vote.
The Homel regional court in the country's southeast began the trial behind closed doors on June 5.
Zhalezka was charged with inciting hatred, libel, illegal access of private information, organization of activities that blatantly disrupt social order, taking part in extremist activities, insulting the president, insulting an official, and discrediting Belarus.
Separately on June 5, the Homel regional court sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison Anatol Kireychyk, 74, on charges of libel, insulting a law enforcement officer, insulting a judge, and the illegal possession of ammunition. That trial also was held behind closed doors and details of the case remain unknown.
The Vyasna human rights center said on June 5 that Belarusian police arrested activist Aleh Astralenka for taking part in the anti-Lukashenka rallies in 2020.
Lukashenka was declared the winner of the August 2020 election, triggering protests by tens of thousands of Belarusians who, along with many Western observers and countries, said the vote was rigged.
The demonstrations lasted for months as Belarusians demanded Lukashenka, in power since 1994, step down and hold fresh elections.
At Lukashenka's direction, security officials cracked down hard 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 voter fraud and has refused to negotiate with the opposition led by Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who supporters say actually won the August 2020 election. Tsikhanouskaya is currently residing in Lithuania.
The United States, the European Union, and several other countries have refused to acknowledge Lukashenka as the winner of the vote and imposed several rounds of sanctions on him and his regime, citing election fraud and the crackdown.
