A court in the capital of Belarus, Minsk, has given former Olympic swimmer Aliaksandra Herasimenia, in absentia, and political activist Alexander Opeykin 12 years jail term for demanding sanctions and activities with intentions of harming the national security of Belarus.
“They were found guilty of public calls to commit actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of Belarus, including the use of restrictive measures (sanctions) against Belarus, individuals, and legal entities of the republic,” the state news BelTA agency reported on Monday.
“Such actions entailed grave consequences,” it said.
The UN and many other nations have ignored Belarus because of its continued repression of political opponents, members of civil society, and journalists.
According to the US embassy in Belarus, there are over 1,300 political prisoners in Belarus.
Herasimenia, a three-time Olympic medallist, was one of the best players who escaped Belarus due to the clampdown on those who disagreed with what was believed to be the fraudulent re-election of Alexander Lukashenko in August 2020.
Lukashenko, a close aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has rejected doing anything wrong. Even if no direct participation in Ukraine’s invasion is seen from its side, Russia has used regions in Belarus to attack Ukraine.
Aleksander Opeykin is the chairman of the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation which supports players who have been impounded and faced subjugation under Lukashenko’s authoritarian rule.
“From August 2020 to May 20, 2022, through the media and the Internet, they disseminated deliberately false information and fabrications about the events that took place on the territory of Belarus, about the course and results of the election campaign 2020,” BelTA reported.
The court also ordered capturing of Herasimenia’s apartment, her car, and $48,700 in her bank accounts.
Belarusian opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, rejected the court’s ruling.
“Shameful!” Tsikhanouskaya said on her Twitter account. “The regime can’t get to them, but their property in Belarus was seized, including a car & an apartment. This is how the regime tries to punish its opponents in exile.”
