Belarus. – US criticizes “shameful” sentence against Belarusian opponents Kolesnikova and Znak

Madrid, 6 (Europa Press)

The United States government on Monday described the sentence handed down by Belarusian justice against opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova and lawyer Maxim Znak as “shameful”, seeing a political background, and calling for the “immediate” release of both .

Kolesnikova and Znak have been sentenced to 11 and 10 years in prison, respectively, for crimes linked to a wave of protests against the Alexander Lukashenko regime following the controversial August 2020 elections. Both are in provisional prison for nearly a year in Washington, the victims of “fake charges”.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has recognized that “these sentences are further evidence of the regime’s total lack of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” In this sense, he has indicated that the two adversaries deserve a “fair and public” trial by a “competent, independent and impartial” court.

The head of North American diplomacy has reaffirmed his support for those who work to achieve “a democratic and prosperous future in a free and independent country”, as made clear with a decree nearly a month ago. which opened the door to tightening sanctions against Lukashenko. Climate.

Blinken urged the Belarusian authorities to stop the “campaign of repression” against citizens who want to exercise their rights both inside and outside the country, while seeking the “immediate and unconditional release of all “political prisoners”. ” Invoking, among them Kolesnikova and Znak.

The secretary of state claimed, “We reiterate our call for the Belarusian authorities to initiate a genuine dialogue with members of the democratic opposition and civil society, which leads to free and fair elections under international observation. “