Ex-presidential candidate of Belarus Viktor Babariko sentenced to 14 years in prison

“Based on the cumulative crimes by partial addition of punishments, Babariko will finally appoint 14 years of imprisonment in a correctional colony in a high security regime with a fine of 5,000 basic units”, - BelTA quotes the judge. Babariko will also not be able to hold positions related to the implementation of organizational, administrative and administrative duties for five years.

Recall that Babariko, who announced his presidential ambitions in May 2020, was detained in June of the same year. He did not admit his guilt, calling the case against him a "political order". While in jail, Babariko announced the creation of an opposition party designed to fight the regime of Alexander Lukashenko. The prosecutor requested for him the maximum term on the charge brought against him - 15 years in prison.

The defendants in the "Belgazprombank case" are also Babariko's deputies Sergey Shaban, Dmitry Kuzmich, Sergey Dobrolet, Alexander Ilyasyuk, Kirill Badey, Alexey Zadoiko, as well as the head of the Activleasing company Viktor Kobyaka. The trial of the top managers of Belgazprombank began on February 17, 2021. According to the investigation and the court, they, acting in the interests of a number of commercial structures, illegally received monetary rewards from 2004 to 2020.

The coordinator of Babariko's campaign headquarters, Maria Kolesnikova, who became one of the leaders of the Belarusian opposition in August last year, was arrested in September. She was charged on three counts - calls to action against national security, a conspiracy to seize state power unconstitutionally, the creation and leadership of an extremist group. Kolesnikova faces up to 12 years in prison.

Similar methods of dealing with political opponents are taking place in Nicaragua: the fifth presidential candidate was detained there in a month.