The Minsk City Court on September 10 started the trial of Belarusian historian Ihar Melnikau on a charge of facilitating extremist activities. It is unclear what the charge stems from. The 44-year-old historian was arrested in January. If convicted, Melnikau would face up to seven years in prison. Former Belarusian presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich told RFE/RL that Melnikau's case appears to be connected to his work on historical ties between Belarus and Poland contradicting the stance of pro-Moscow historians and the concept formed during the Soviet era and promoted by authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka's government. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
Belarusian Historian Ihar Melnikau Goes On Trial On Extremism Charge
