TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian authorities on Friday convicted a famous dissident rock band, designating the band and its three members as extremist and sentencing them to two years of correctional labor. It was the latest in a yearslong crackdown on dissent that has engulfed this country of 9.5 million people.
Nizkiz band members — Alyaksandr Ilyin, Siarhei Kulsha and Dzmitry Khalyaukin — were charged with “organizing and plotting actions grossly violating public order.”
In 2020, when Belarus was rocked by mass protests that erupted after President Alexander Lukashenko won a sixth term in office in a disputed election, the band released “Rules,” a song that became the protests’ anthem. A music video for the song was filmed at one of the demonstrations against the country’s authoritarian leader.
Lukashenko’s government unleashed a brutal crackdown in response to the protests, arresting more than 35,000 people and violently beating thousands. Many have been labeled as “extremists,” a designation frequently used against critics. The repressions have continued to this day.
Related articles:
Related suggestion:
ALEXANDRA SHULMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Prohibition of fun? It will never be a winner, RishiNow Europe copies Rishi on Rwanda: Slap in the face for selfSkahan's secondAmid talk of renationalising the railways, PETER HITCHENS' provocative view... The disastrous breakZhang Yufei bags fourth gold in China's national swimming championshipsEMILY PRESCOTT: Did King Charles's exMet police arrest Gaza protesters for racism and hate banner comparing Israel to the NazisRenowned Peruvian investigative reporter battles criminalized smear campaign — and cancerPan wins 7th gold at national swimming championshipsPoppy Harlow is leaving CNN after more than 15 years
1.9341s , 6505.59375 kb
Copyright © 2024 Powered by Belarus convicts a famous dissident rock band and sentences its members to correctional labor ,Cosmic Chronicle news portal