Court in Belarus convicts Eduard Babariko — son of jailed former rival Lukashenko in the presidential election Viktor Babariko — to eight years in prison, his supporters and state media reported today.
Edward Babariko found guilty of tax evasion and “complicity in inciting social discord and hostilities” in a trial that began in May, nearly three years after his arrest. He denied his guilt.
Babariko was arrested in June 2020 along with his father Victor, a prominent banker and philanthropist. At that time, the father was considered the main opponent in the presidential election of Alexander Lukashenkowho has led Belarus since 1994. The son was the head of his father’s election staff.
Lukashenko then claimed that achieved a landslide victory in the presidential election two months later, sparking the largest protest demonstrations in modern Belarusian history. He denied that there was fraud.
Victor Babariko sentenced in 2021 to 14 years in prison with the accusations of corruption which he himself denied. The court’s decision was criticized by the West and the Belarusian opposition, whose leading figures are all in exile or jailed.
Source: News Beast
With 6 years of experience, I bring to the table captivating and informative writing in the world news category. My expertise covers a range of industries, including tourism, technology, forex and stocks. From brief social media posts to in-depth articles, I am dedicated to creating compelling content for various platforms.
