By Ronald Popeski and Lidia Kelly
(Portal) – A Minsk court sentenced in absentia former Olympic swimmer Aliaksandra Herasimenia and political activist Alexander Opeykin to 12 years in prison for calling for sanctions and measures aimed at damaging Belarus’ national security.
“They were found guilty of publicly inciting to commit acts aimed at damaging the national security of Belarus, including the application of restrictive measures (sanctions) against Belarus, individuals and legal entities of the republic,” the state-run BelTA news agency reported Monday.
“Such actions had serious consequences.”
Belarus has been shunned by the United Nations and many countries over an ongoing crackdown on political opponents, civil society and journalists.
According to the US Embassy in Belarus, there are more than 1,300 political prisoners in Belarus.
Herasimenia, a three-time Olympic medalist, was among top athletes who fled Belarus after protesting against those protesting the alleged fraudulent re-election of Alexander Lukashenko in August 2020.
Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has denied any wrongdoing. Although Russia is not officially participating in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, it has used Belarusian territory to launch its multifaceted attacks.
Aleksander Opeykin is the chairman of the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation, which aims to support athletes who were imprisoned and faced repression under Lukashenko’s authoritarian rule.
“From August 2020 to May 20, 2022, they deliberately spread false information and fabrications about events on the territory of Belarus, about the course and results of the 2020 election campaign through the media and the Internet,” BelTA reported.
The court also ordered the seizure of Herasimenia’s home, her car and $48,700 in her bank account.
Belarusian opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya condemned the court’s verdict.
“Shameful!” Tsikhanouskaya said on her Twitter account. “The regime can’t get hold of them, but their property in Belarus was confiscated, including a car and an apartment. This is how the regime tries to punish its opponents in exile.”
(Reporting in Winnipeg by Ron Popeski and in Melbourne by Lidia Kelly; writing by Lidia Kelly; editing by Lincoln Feast.)