Opposition politician slams sentence to Łojka

June 20, BPN. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja’s ally has denounced a human rights activist’s prison sentence as cynical.

The Minsk City Court sentenced Anastasija Łojka to seven years on charges of inciting hatred.

Volha Harbunova, in charge of social issues in Cichanoŭskaja’s cabinet, said the decision was baseless and draconian. She said Łojka did a lot for socially vulnerable groups in Belarus.

“Anastasija Łojka is one of the most prominent Belarusian human rights defenders. She deliberately stayed in Belarus to be able to help,” Harbunova said.

She called on those concerned to support Łojka with money transfers, “vegan parcels” and telegrams.