Cichanoŭskaja, Łatuška to be tried in absentia on January 17

January 3, BPN. The trial of opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, National Anti-Crisis Management head Pavieł Łatuška and other members of the Coordinating Council for Political Crisis Settlement is to open in Minsk on January 17 without the defendants being present.

The first hearing is to begin at the Minsk City Court’s hearing at 10 a.m., the Supreme Court said on its website.

The opposition politicians are accused of conspiracy to seize state power, creation of extremist groups, incitement to hatred and obstruction of the central election commission’s work.

The council was established in August 2020 to address the political crisis that followed Alaksandr Łukašenka’s disputed re-election.