BPF leader’s relatives say sentence too harsh

September 5, BPN. Ryhor Kastusioŭ’s relatives expected him to receive a minimum prison term, the politician’s son-in-law Źmicier Antončyk told BPN.

On September 5, Minsk Regional Court Judge Uładzimir Areška sentenced the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) chairman to 10 years’ imprisonment as part of a high-profile coup d’état case. Kastusioŭ pleaded not guilty.

“Until the very end, we hoped that it will be the shortest possible, sentence under this [Criminal Code] article: eight years, given Kastusioŭ’s minimal involvement in this case, as evident even from the evidence presented,” Antončyk said.

He noted that Kastusioŭ had no had face-to-face meetings or travels, only participated in a Zoom call with other suspects.

“It is clear that he was invited to chat on Zoom, and signed up for it assuming that it will be an exchange of opinions on the country’s situation,” Antončyk said. “It is unlikely that any conspiracy was announced in advance.”

All this turned out to be “secret services’ game” that most likely originated in Russia, Antončyk added.

Another reason why Kastusioŭ’s relatives expected a lighter sentence was the state of his health, the son-in-law continued: “His cancer has not disappeared. It would be good if he had an urgent check and treatment.”