Belarus opens criminal case against dissident who fled by paraglider
July 8, Pozirk. Belarus has opened criminal proceedings against activist Andrej Suša, who fled the country by motorized paraglider five years ago to escape what he described as politically motivated persecution.
The 48-year-old Suša faces eight criminal charges, including insulting Alaksandar Łukašenka, threatening violence against a police officer, facilitating extremist activity, founding an extremist group and illegally crossing the state border.
As part of its crackdown on opponents, the Łukašenka regime amended the law in 2022 to allow the prosecution of people outside Belarus through so-called special proceedings. To date, at least 178 people have been targeted under the procedure.
Suša made international headlines in 2021 by escaping Belarus on a motorized paraglider. He was facing years in prison over critical online comments. A former paratrooper, he flew low over the treetops to avoid Belarusian border patrols and radar. He covered about 60 kilometers (37 miles) in roughly 80 minutes before landing safely in Lithuania, where he applied for political asylum.
Opposition leader: torture integrated into Belarus’ prison system
- PoliticsKyiv considering criminal case against Łukašenka — reportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyUnprofitable farms up 50 percent in a yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyLukašenka downplays salaries for Uzbek laborersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyLithuania intercepts raft with smuggled cigarettes from Belarus worth over €11,000The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyTurkish Airlines to resume passenger flights to MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Politics
- Economy
- PoliticsŁukašenka optimistic about relations with WashingtonThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka receives credentials from ambassadors of Brazil, Myanmar, other countriesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ foreign trade reported up 13.6 percent in January-MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsForeign ministry discusses cooperation with Iran, Saudi ArabiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolitical purges in Belarus continue with new criminal convictions, searchesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsUzbekistan deploys new ambassador to Belarus a week after firing predecessorThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLithuania discovers another tunnel under border with BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- Politics, Society
- EconomyLabor productivity reported up 0.6 percent, real pay 7.1 percent in first five monthsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyUnprofitable companies reported up 26 percent in first five monthsThe material is available only to POZIRK+



