Belarusian opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky was sentenced to another year and a half in prison for "disobedience to the administration" of the prison, where he is currently serving an 18-year sentence. This was reported by the human rights center "Vesna".
Tikhanovsky was accused of "systematically disobeying the legitimate demands of the administration" and "provoking conflicts."
According to the totality of sentences, Tikhanovsky was sentenced to 15 years, 9 months and 5 days in prison, reminds "Spring". Of these, he will have to serve 2 years, 5 months and 18 days in prison, where conditions are more severe than in a colony.
At the trial, Tikhanovsky pleaded not guilty.
According to Belarusian human rights activists, at least 16 political prisoners have already been convicted for "malicious disobedience" to the administrations of correctional facilities.
Sergei Tikhanovsky put forward his candidacy for the presidential elections in Belarus in 2020, but the CEC refused to register him. Shortly thereafter, the oppositionist was arrested, in December 2021 he was sentenced to 18 years in prison, found guilty of organizing mass riots, inciting social hatred, obstructing the work of the Central Election Commission and violating public order.
Instead of Tikhanovsky, his wife Svetlana took part in the presidential elections. The CEC declared Alexander Lukashenko the winner, but the Belarusian opposition considered the elections rigged, and recognized Tikhanovskaya as the real winner. This led to prolonged protests of many thousands, which were brutally suppressed by the authorities. Many foreign governments also did not recognize the results of the elections in Belarus.
Tikhanovskaya left for Lithuania, where she is considered the head of the Belarusian government in exile. In Belarus, cases were initiated against her about preparing terrorist attacks and “assigning the title or power of an official.”