Ex-diplomat turned oppositionist gets lengthy prison term in absentia

February 19, BPN. A court in Minsk found former diplomat Uładzimir Astapienka guilty of attempted large-scale embezzlement while being in public service without the defendant being present, the Prosecutor General’s press office reported.

Authorities sentenced him to five years in prison in absentia and fined him 18,500 rubels (over $6,600). The prison term was cut by one year in a pardon program.

Astapienka is currently based outside Belarus and heading the opposition’s Brussels office. Authorities started special proceedings against the former diplomat in late December 2022.

Prior to joining the opposition, Astapienka served as Belarusian ambassador to Argentina, representing Belarus in Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, and Peru.

Trials in absentia in the so-called special proceedings target those living abroad and evading contact with investigators. The authorities’ ultimate goal in the process is to strip dissidents of their Belarusian citizenship.