A Belarusian court today sentenced a drummer whose group played at the 2020 protests against the re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko to six years in prison, according to the non-governmental human rights organization Viasna.
Alexey Sanchuk (30) was arrested in Minsk in November last year with other members of the band who attended opposition protests.
They were sentenced to 15 days in prison for participating in "illegal demonstrations", but Sanchuk was tried for serious crimes.
Today, the court found him guilty of preparing actions aimed at "severe violation of public order and peace" and of inciting people to participate in "mass disturbances".
According to the NGO, he was also accused of blocking traffic by waving a red and white flag in the colors of the opposition and encouraging protesters to applaud.
After the arrest, the police beat Aleksey Sanchuk, and then forced him to record a confession that was broadcast on television, the NGO adds.
The Belarusian opposition contested the re-election of Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, after which mass demonstrations broke out across the country. The government suppressed the protests by arresting thousands of people who are now on trial.
Almost all the protest leaders were either arrested or fled abroad, including former presidential candidate Svetlana Tihanovska, who took refuge in Lithuania.
Despite the European and American sanctions, Lukashenko (66), who is supported by Moscow, has not shown any signs of opening up, but only announced constitutional changes.
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