October 8, Pozirk. The Investigative Committee has filed criminal charges of conspiracy to seize power and association with extremist groups against 45 exiled Belarusians over their alleged cooperation with pro-democracy forces.
The announcement mentions the Platform 2025 initiative which is probably linked to an opposition cooperation agreement signed in August.
Investigators claim to have identified 22 persons who support Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja. The Committee has not disclosed their names, yet law enforcers claim to have gathered information on their Belarus-based real estate and property.
Belarusian authorities have already used expropriation as a tool to keep up pressure on exiled opponents, auctioning off the apartments of former opposition presidential hopefuls Valeryj Capkała, Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja and Siarhiej Cichanoŭski.
Politically-motivated reprisals have intensified in Belarus in the run-up to the 2025 presidential poll, rights groups warned.
