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| - The husband of Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya went on trial Thursday in the ex-Soviet nation, a rights group said, months after historic protests erupted over a disputed presidential election. The mass anti-government demonstrations broke out in August 2020 after President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron grip for nearly three decades, claimed a sixth term in power in what Tikhanovskaya and several Western leaders believe was a rigged vote. These have now subsided, but independent journalists and activists continue to receive jail terms in a government crackdown. Sergei Tikhanovsky, a popular YouTube blogger who had campaigned against Lukashenko before being arrested, stood trial in the city of Gomel in southeastern Belarus, the independent Viasna rights group said. He faces up to 15 years in jail. Five other activists are also on trial, including historic opposition figure Mikola Statkevich. Tikhanovsky had planned to run against Lukashenko in the 2020 August presidential elections but was detained on charges of violating public order soon after announcing his presidential bid. His wife Svetlana -- a stay-at-home mum and political novice -- took his place and quickly gained popularity, becoming Lukashenko's main opponent in the election. The hearing in Gomel was held behind closed doors inside a detention centre where Tikhanovsky has been kept for over a year, Viasna said. A video shared online by a pro-government journalist showed the six defendants being brought to the hearing with their hands handcuffed behind their backs. Wearing plain T-shirts and trousers, the men were placed inside a cage for defendants. As Statkevich walked in, he shouted "Long live Belarus!", the slogan of the opposition during last year's demonstrations. The Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes in Belarus, said in March that Tikhanovsky and his associates "manipulated public consciousness" using social media. Investigators said that their "false appeals" drew hundreds of people to take part in street riots and other activities that "grossly violated public order". "Everyone understands that this is not a trial but personal revenge and reprisals from the one who seized and retains power with the use of violence," Tikhanovskaya, 38, said in a video message on Thursday. Also on Thursday, a hearing was held behind closed doors in the Belarusian capital Minsk to designate the country's most popular independent news outlet Tut.by as "extremist". The Tut.by website was blocked by authorities in May, while 15 of its employees were detained on charges of tax evasion. Meanwhile on Tuesday, prosecutors requested 15 years in jail for another leading opposition figure, Viktor Babaryko. Babaryko had also planned to run in the presidential race and was considered one of the strongest candidates before his arrest in June 2020 on fraud charges. Most of Lukashenko's opponents are now either in jail or have fled the country. Tikhanovskaya too was forced into exile to EU member state Lithuania shortly after the anti-government protests began. The European Union and the United States have slapped a slew of sanctions on Lukashenko and his allies over the crackdown on the protests that saw thousands detained. Earlier this week, the EU, US, Britain and Canada announced fresh sanctions on Belarus over the forced landing of a Ryanair flight last month to arrest a regime critic and his girlfriend onboard. Lukashenko, however, has so far shrugged off the Western pressure with backing from key ally and creditor Russia. tk-acl/emg/mbx
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