Trade union activist sentenced to three years in Łukašenka libel case

September 6, BPN. Judge Taćciana Šocik of the Leninski District Court in Minsk has sentenced Ihar Lednik, 61, a member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) and trade union activist, to three years in prison on charges of defaming Alaksandr Łukašenka, the Viasna Human Rights Centre reported.

The charge stemmed from an article containing “deliberately false, disgraceful and humiliating information about the head of state, accusing him of particularly serious crimes, including against the security of mankind,” the prosecutor said.

The activist was arrested on April 18 in a crackdown on independent trade unions. He was first jailed for 15 days, and later confronted with criminal charges.

Human rights activists say his persecution is politically motivated.

The man has a disability due to his heart condition.