Exiled comedian given prison term in Belarus for jokes about Łukašenka

December 30, Pozirk. The Minsk City Court has sentenced Viačasłaŭ Kamisaranka, a popular exiled Belarusian stand-up comedian, to six years in prison without him being present at the trial, the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.
Authorities accused him of inciting hatred as well as insulting and defaming Alaksandar Łukašenka who frequently features in Kamisaranka’s jokes about politics.
Earlier this year, Kamisaranka said that after a performance in Turkey, a Turkish internal affairs officer advised him against mocking that country’s officials.
Belarusian authorities convicted him under special proceedings targeting those living abroad and evading contact with investigators, allowing authorities to persecute exiled opponents and try them in their absence.
Amendments listing 34 serious crimes such as acts of terrorism, treason, sabotage, mass riots, association with an extremist group and calls for sanctions, came into effect in July 2022.
Authorities have recently stepped up pressure on their exiled opponents, accusing 45 Belarusians currently based abroad of conspiracy to seize power and association with extremist groups over their alleged cooperation with pro-democracy forces.

Dozen new political prisoners designated, total reaches 1,265
- PoliticsRyžankoŭ meets with Botswana’s top diplomatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics, SecurityZapad-2025 moved inland, scaled down, Łukašenka confirmsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityUkrainian man sentenced to six years for attempting to smuggle draft dodger to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityPoland’s Tusk calls for tougher measures to stop asylum seekersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ deficit in goods trade widens to $2.6 billion in January-MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security, SocietyDrones, energetic materials new majors in Belarusian higher educationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka accuses West of militarization ahead of Zapad 2025 drillThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyPrivate companies’ overdue loan debt rises six-fold year on yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyIndividuals’ overdue debt on loans up 23.6 percentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityDead Eritrean found near shared border with Latvia, Belarus saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, PoliticsGerman MPs join For a Democratic Belarus group’s new lineupThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyPutin’s crony delivering goods from occupied Ukraine to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: concerns grow over jailed pundit Kaściuhova’s healthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyLibyan delegation in MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyUpper house approves fines for vegetable shortagesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka says Belarusians should be grateful to his government for staying out warThe material is available only to POZIRK+