The Minsk Regional Court sentenced Roman Protasevich, former editor of the NEXTA telegram channel, to eight years in prison, transmits BELTA.
According to the indictment, Protasevich, NEXTA founder Stepan Putilo and the channel’s editor-in-chief Yan Rudik, while abroad, participated in a plot to seize power from the state in Belarus unconstitutionally. According to the prosecutor’s office, they published informative materials for destructive purposes on the NEXTA and Belarus Brain channels, and also called on protesting Belarusian citizens to carry out terrorist attacks.
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Belarus asked to sentence Protasevich to 10 years in prison, Putilo – 20 years, Rudik – 19 years. The prosecution said Protasevich had complied with the terms of the pre-trial agreement, so he could expect a mitigation of sentence.
Putilo and Rudik are abroad. Protasevich was arrested at Minsk airport in May 2021 together with his girlfriend, Russian citizen Sofia Sapega. The couple flew from Athens to Vilnius but the plane made an emergency landing in the Belarusian capital after a bomb threat on board was reported which was later not confirmed.
In May 2022, the Grodno Regional Court sentenced Sapega to six years in prison. She was found guilty of inciting social hatred and disseminating information constituting the personal and family secrets of others.
The news is added.
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