Dozens persecuted for donations to opposition initiatives – rights group

July 9, BPN. At least 19 people have been convicted of donating to opposition initiatives after the 2020 presidential election, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Twelve people were given prison terms ranging from three to six years on charges of financing extremist or terrorist activities. Authorities did not disclose the outcomes of the other seven trials.

At least ten persons remain behind bars pending trials on similar charges.

The Committee for State Security (KGB) reportedly promises to drop criminal charges in exchange for large donations to Belarus-based charities.

Donations to opposition initiatives such as BySol via Facebook peaked following the 2020 post-election protests. Authorities keep persecuting people who donated to BySol before it was declared an extremist group in December 2021.