US Embassy vocies support for Cichanoŭskaja, others tried in absentia

March 1, BPN. The US Embassy in Belarus has expressed support for opposition activists who are being tried in absentia.

“Prosecutors want exorbitant prison terms for Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja, Pavieł Łatuška, Volha Kavalkova, Siarhiej Dyleŭski and Maryja Maroz because of their courageous work to promote a democratic, sovereign, stable Belarus,” it tweeted on February 28.

“They are the architects of Belarus’ tomorrow. We stand by their side,” it added.

At the in absentia trial in Minsk on February 27, a prosecutor requested that Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja and her deputy chairman in the opposition’s cabinet, Pavieł Łatuška, be sentenced to 19 years in prison each.

In the prosecutor’s opinion, Coordination Council presidium members Volha Kavalkova and Siarhiej Dyleŭski, as well as Cichanoŭskaja’s former campaign manager Maryja Maroz, should be sentenced to 12 years.