Belarusian authorities have launched a criminal investigation against opposition leader Svetlana Tihanovska, accusing her of terrorism, after arresting a suspect in an attempt to cause an explosion in Minsk.
Belarusian State Prosecutor Andrey Shved said his office had opened a criminal investigation against Tihanovska, who was the main rival of Alexander Lukashenko in the presidential election held in August.
In his statement, Šved said that Tihanovska and several other persons are suspected of trying to cause explosions and fires in Minsk and other cities a few days ago.
Tihanovska, who fled to Lithuania after the election, has not yet reacted to the accusations of terrorism.
Mass opposition protests, in which 200.000 people participated, began in Belarus after Lukashenko was declared the winner of the August 2020 elections, which the opposition considers rigged.
During the protests, more than 33.000 people were arrested, and a large number were brutally beaten.
Last Sunday, Tihanovska called for a new wave of demonstrations against Lukashenko to keep up the pressure on the government.
Belarusian security forces arrested hundreds of demonstrators during protests that took place on Thursday and Saturday.
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