Belarus opens criminal case against dissident who fled by paraglider

July 8, Pozirk. Belarus has opened criminal proceedings against activist Andrej Suša, who fled the country by motorized paraglider five years ago to escape what he described as politically motivated persecution.

The 48-year-old Suša faces eight criminal charges, including insulting Alaksandar Łukašenka, threatening violence against a police officer, facilitating extremist activity, founding an extremist group and illegally crossing the state border.

As part of its crackdown on opponents, the Łukašenka regime amended the law in 2022 to allow the prosecution of people outside Belarus through so-called special proceedings. To date, at least 178 people have been targeted under the procedure.

Suša made international headlines in 2021 by escaping Belarus on a motorized paraglider. He was facing years in prison over critical online comments. A former paratrooper, he flew low over the treetops to avoid Belarusian border patrols and radar. He covered about 60 kilometers (37 miles) in roughly 80 minutes before landing safely in Lithuania, where he applied for political asylum.

Society

Society

Opposition leader: torture integrated into Belarus’ prison system

June 26, Pozirk. Torture has become a part of the horrific prison experience that hundreds of Belarusians go through every day, Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has said on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, her press …

Read