Judge sentences 20 people to prison terms of 10-11 years over Cichanoŭskaja links

July 1, Pozirk. The Minsk Regional Court has sentenced 20 people to lengthy prison terms over alleged links to Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said that Aliaksandar Dabravolski, an aide to the opposition leader, has been given 11 years and six months in prison. The others have been sentenced to prison terms of 10 to 11 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to seize power, inciting hatred, extremism and other charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Those convicted include spokeswoman Hanna Krasulina, political aide Dzianis Kučynski, political analyst Piotra Rudkoŭski, politician Pavieł Usaŭ, sociologists Ryhor Astapienia and Filip Bikanaŭ, journalists Juryj Drakachrust and Hanna Lubakova, researchers Vieranika Łapućka and Taćciana Čulickaja, educator Alaksandar Łahviniec, political scientists Andrej Kazakievič, Maryja Rohava, Kaciaryna Śmacina and Lesia Rudnik, Natalla Rabava, Jaŭhien Kryžanoŭski and Vasil Navumaŭ.

All those convicted are based abroad.

Also read: US Embassy: trial of “Cichanoŭskaja’s think-tankers” new attack on human rights