Eduard Babaryka, son of imprisoned Belarusian presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka, has been sentenced to eight years in prison following his conviction on charges of "organizing mass riots" and "inciting hatred." The 34-year-old maintains his innocence, asserting a lack of evidence to support the accusations. He has been detained for over three years.
His father, Viktar Babaryka, aimed to challenge President Alexander Lukashenko in the 2020 election but was barred from registration and subsequently sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. Concerns have arisen regarding the elder Babaryka's well-being, with supporters fearing he may have been subjected to violence and hospitalized within the prison system. His current condition remains unknown for over two months.
The 2020 Belarusian election, which saw Lukashenko secure a sixth term, was widely denounced as rigged by both the opposition and Western nations. Mass protests erupted across the country, some attracting over 100,000 participants. The government responded with a severe crackdown, resulting in over 35,000 arrests, widespread reports of police brutality against detainees, and the suppression of numerous NGOs and independent media outlets.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the opposition leader who challenged Lukashenko in the 2020 election and was subsequently forced to flee Belarus, condemned Babaryka's sentencing as a vengeful act for supporting his father. She called for the injustice to be addressed.
According to the Viasna human rights organization, Belarus currently holds approximately 1,500 political prisoners. Among them is Ales Bialiatski, the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, serving a 10-year sentence on charges he denies of financing public disorder and smuggling.
