{"id":194946,"date":"2026-07-08T19:17:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T16:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/194946\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T19:17:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T16:17:42","slug":"belarus-opens-criminal-case-against-dissident-who-fled-by-paraglider","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/194946\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus opens criminal case against dissident who fled by paraglider"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

July 8, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Belarus has opened criminal proceedings against activist Andrej Su\u0161a, who fled the country by motorized paraglider five years ago to escape what he described as politically motivated persecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 48-year-old Su\u0161a faces eight criminal charges, including insulting Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, threatening violence against a police officer, facilitating extremist activity, founding an extremist group and illegally crossing the state border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of its crackdown on opponents, the \u0141uka\u0161enka 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Su\u0161a 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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