EU condemns “absurd” sentencing of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and other key figures of Belarusian opposition
March 8, 2023

EU condemns “absurd” sentencing of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and other key figures of Belarusian opposition


The “absurd” sentences against Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and other key figures of the Belarusian democratic forces in exile are “another deplorable example of the ongoing travesty of justice and political misuse of the judiciary by Lukashenko”, EU High Representative Josep Borrell said in a statement.

His comments came after the leader of the Belarusian pro-democratic forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was sentenced – in absentia and in closed trial – to 15 years’ imprisonment on 6 March. Coordination Council member Pavel Latushko was sentenced to 18 years and Maryya Maroz, Volha Kavalkova and Siarhei Dylevski were each sentenced to 12 years in prison.

“Lukashenko’s regime reached a new low in its attempts to silence those who stand up in defence of the fundamental freedoms of the people in Belarus and challenge his illegitimate regime,” said Borrell. “The EU will continue to support all those who courageously stand up for an independent and democratic Belarus, and is ready to take action in response to continued outrageous bulldozing of the rights of its population.”

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