Human rights defender Łojka gets seven years in prison

June 20, BPN. The Minsk City Court has sentenced human rights defender Anastasija Łojka to seven years in prison, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.

In a trial behind closed doors, Judge Alena Šylko found her guilty of inciting hatred.

The criminal case stemmed from the allegations that Łojka was involved in drafting a report on the persecution of anarchist activists in 2018, human rights defenders said. Prosecutors interpreted the report’s critical statements about police as incitement of hatred.

Łojka, a team member of the outlawed Human Constanta non-governmental organization, monitored changes in legislation and defended the rights of foreigners and stateless people in Belarus. In 2022, authorities jailed her several times for alleged minor offenses before filing criminal charges.

Human Constanta urged international organizations to condemn the persecution of Łojka and other Belarusian human rights defenders and use all available international mechanisms to force the authorities to stop the crackdown.