Belarus sentences exiled opposition leader to 15 years in jail

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was forced to flee to neighbouring EU-member Lithuania after the protests sparked by a disputed presidential election in 2020

The charges of high treason and ‘conspiracy to seize power’ stem from massive anti-government rallies against Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko

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A court in Belarus on Monday sentenced exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya (left) to 15 years in prison after a trial in absentia on charges including conspiring to overthrow the government. Photo: AP

Published: 10:41pm, 6 Mar 2023Updated: 11:00pm, 6 Mar 2023

Belarus on Monday sentenced exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to 15 years in prison for spearheading historic protests against the former Soviet country’s authoritarian leader.

Tikhanovskaya – who was forced to flee to neighbouring EU-member Lithuania after the protests sparked by a disputed presidential election in 2020, was sentenced in absentia on charges of high treason and “conspiracy to seize power”.

The state-run news agency Belta reported that she was on trial alongside Pavel Latushko, a former Belarusian diplomat and culture minister turned opposition leader, who was handed an 18-year jail term, also in absentia.

The charges stem from massive anti-government rallies that broke out against Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who claimed he had won a sixth presidential term.

Tikhanovskaya, who had earlier described the trial as a “farce”, said in response to Monday’s verdict that she would continue to advocate for political prisoners detained in her authoritarian country.