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Belarus state prosecutor demands 7-year term for opposition leader

© RIA Novosti . Sergei Samokhin / Go to the mediabankAndrei Sannikov
Andrei Sannikov - Sputnik International
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Belarusian state prosecutors demanded on Friday a 7-year jail term for a high-profile opposition leader charged with organizing mass protests against the re-election of veteran hardline President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarusian state prosecutors demanded on Friday a 7-year jail term for a high-profile opposition leader charged with organizing mass protests against the re-election of veteran hardline President Alexander Lukashenko.

Andrei Sannikov, a former deputy foreign minister and leader of Belarus’ Christian Democratic Party, stood as a candidate against Lukashenko and was one of seven candidates detained after the December 19 vote.

Another former presidential candidate, Nikolai Sannikov, was named a key figure in organizing the unrest. He could face up to 15 years in jail.

The prosecutors also say they want a three-year jail sentence for opposition activists Ilya Vasilevich, Fyodor Mirzoyanov and Vladimir Yaromenka, and four years for activist Oleg Gnedchik.

Hundreds of protesters were beaten and detained at the demonstration over the results of the election, which international observers called “flawed.”

The United States and European Union condemned the crackdown and imposed sanctions against Lukashenko, who has ruled the former Soviet republic since 1994.

A number of opposition activists have already been sentenced to jail terms of up to four years.

In March, Human Rights Watch released a report detailing hundreds of cases of torture and inhumane treatment of jailed protesters.

MINSK, May 13 (RIA Novosti)

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