Opposition politician dismisses Belarus appeal hearing as circus

September 10, Pozirk. A panel has upheld a 20-year sentence against Franak Viačorka, a chief aide to opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, the Prosecutor General’s Office said.
The office branded Viačorka as the leader of the Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja Team extremist group.
Viačorka, who lives in exile, dismissed the hearing as a circus.
“However, now we have the names, documents and evidence against everyone involved. We will document these crimes for history and a future independent trial. We will also attach it to a special jurisdiction case and send it to UN experts,” he told Pozirk.
Viačorka noted that a government-appointed defense attorney in Belarus did not communicate with him.
“She may be scared or may have other tasks,” Viačorka said.
On June 20, the Minsk City Court sentenced Viačorka to 20 years in prison without the defendant being present.
The 36-year-old politician was accused of inciting hatred, organizing mass riots and protests, high treason, conspiracy to overthrow the government, calling for sanctions, forming an extremist group, defaming the head of state and discrediting Belarus.
Also read: Exiled politician says he appealed to document lawlessness
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian diplomats to attend Helsinki+50 conferenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk declares jewelry brand extremistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsGeorgia: Migration officers notify Belarusian embassy of detaining émigréThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsSome 70 political prisoners convicted of malicious disobedience – ViasnaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsŁukašenka reiterates willingness to export engines and medicines to CubaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyMałanka Media journalist beaten in VilniusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuanian MP appeals to prosecutor’s office regarding Cichanoŭski’s remarksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Germany news, Politics
- PoliticsRights defenders declare eight people to be political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyDeadline misstep leads to deportation for Belarusian family in SwedenThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus shows low coverage of external debt by international reservesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPoland seizes Belarusian cigarettes hidden in trucksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyMoscow reasserts naming rules for Belarusian Orthodox ChurchThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsPoland sanctions Belarusian Cement CompanyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SocietyInterior ministry brands brother of jailed journalist Łosik, 13 others as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyInvestigators uncover drug trafficking route via BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyExplosion wrecks at major gas pipeline near MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society