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.
