TALLINN, Estonia (AP) – Belarusian authorities have arrested a prominent activist on a charge of up to four years in prison, the country’s oldest rights group said Tuesday, in what appears to be the latest in a years-long crackdown on dissent.
According to the Viasna Center for Human Rights, Dozmitry Kuchuk of the Green Party, which was abolished last year, was charged with “organizing activities that grossly violate public order and morals.”
Belarusian independent journalist goes on trial in so-called “extremist” case
According to the center, Kuchuk, 50, was arrested on February 16 near the Russian embassy in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, and left flowers to commemorate Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died suddenly at his home. He said he went to light a candle. Arctic Prison was announced that day.
A prominent Belarusian activist has been arrested on charges punishable by up to four years in prison. (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket, Getty Images)
Viasna said authorities ordered Kuciuk to serve 15 consecutive days in prison and then filed criminal charges.
Russia’s neighbor Belarus, with a population of 9.5 million, has been rocked by mass protests after a disputed election in August 2020 gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office. Ta.
Opposition parties and Western countries accused the vote of fraud, sparking a months-long wave of demonstrations across the country. Security forces dispersed the rally and arrested more than 35,000 people.
All prominent rebel figures were imprisoned or forced into exile. The crackdown continues, with opposition activists, independent journalists, and rights defenders being subject to arrests and raids.
Anatol Ryabetska, an aide to the Belarusian opposition leader, said that Kuchuk “settled the security forces, did not leave, did not stay in the closet, and strove to start a campaign to collect signatures demanding the release of political prisoners.” said. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in exile.
His Green Party was liquidated by the Belarusian Supreme Court in July last year as part of a government purge of political parties ahead of 2024 parliamentary elections. He was previously a member of the European Green Party.
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In December, Kuciuk tried to run for parliament, but was barred from doing so. He is the seventh Belarusian party leader to be in prison.
Viasna said there are about 1,400 political prisoners in the country, including the group’s leader and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatsky.
